LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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Chap. Copyright No. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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44 He <was not Pauline, but he ivas Johanine* He 
was the brother of John, He leaned upon his Mas- 
ter's breast, from whom he drew his inspiration." 
—"Bishop R. £• Foster, at the funeral of Alfred 
Cookman. 




THE FREEDMEN'S AID AND SOUTHERN 
EDUCATION SOCIETY, CINCINNATI, O. 



- 



TWO COPIES RECEIVED, 

Library of €e«gre«% 
Offlae of tbt 

APR2 6 1800 

fteglatfr of Copyright* 






57G00 



COPYRIGHT, I9OO, 
BY J. W. HAMILTON 



SECOND COPY, 



PREFACE. 

\7t/E have been induced to prepare 
this brief life of our esteemed 
friend and brother, Alfred Cookman, to 
meet a long-felt need; viz., a compre- 
hensive account of this holy man, 
adapted to the great mass of the Church 
whom he loved, and who love and re- 
vere his memory. The late Dr. H. B. 
Ridgaway, some years ago, wrote a most 
exhaustive life of this good man, which 
was, in all respects, worthy of the 
scholarly author. It was a book of 
nearly 500 pages, published by the Har- 
pers, and sold at $2 per copy. It seemed 
to have failed in two particulars : It was 
too expensive for people of moderate 
means, and too bulky and exhaustive 
3 



Preface* 

for busy people, who have little leisure 
for reading. 

The present volume seeks to avoid 
these extremes. We have sought to 
present in a condensed form all that is 
essential to a proper understanding and 
appreciation of the character of this 
saintly man. 

We are indebted to the Messrs. Har- 
pers for permission to use a few selec- 
tions from the aforesaid Life, as the 
work has for some time been out of 
print. 

People of small means, equally with 
those of abundance, will find this Life 
of Alfred Cookman, small as it is, an 
inspiration to holy living, and a bless- 
ing which will cheer and help them in 
the struggles and conflicts of life. 

In view of Mr. Cookman's deep, life- 
long interest in the colored race, we 
have arranged that the entire profits 
4 



Preface. 

from the sale of this work shall be de- 
voted to the benefit of the Freedmen's 
Aid and Southern Education Society 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Our fervent prayer is that the spirit 
of Alfred Cookman may possess all the 
workers in this field, as well as the peo- 
ple for whom they labor. This will 
fully compensate the writer for any labor 
he has performed, and will fully meet 
the wishes of Mrs. Cookman and her 
children. 

5 



INTRODUCTION. 

'"THE vision of John Fletcher's face 
A often sent conviction to the sin- 
ner's heart. Edward Perronet, who 
wrote the immortal hymn, 

"All hail the power of Jesus* name, 
Let angels prostrate fall," 

had a brother, William, who testified 
that the first sight of Fletcher's face so 
impressed him that he never got over 
it till he gave his heart to God. 

Dr. Daniel Devinne, once a missionary 
in the then remote wilds of Louisiana, 
wrote Dr. Abel Stevens, the historian of 
Methodism, that on his circuit he found 
a settler who had been reproved by 
Fletcher of Madeley for profanity. He 
was struck dumb by the look of the 
vicar, and though afterwards he went 
to sea and forgot the words of rebuke 

7 



Introduction, 

and was recklessly wicked, that look 
never escaped his mind. It followed 
him everywhere, into whatever part of 
the world he went, and annoyed him in 
all his sins. On penetrating into Loui- 
siana, and hearing the Methodist itiner- 
ant — fifty years later — the remembered 
"look" overpowered him. No longer 
resisting the impression which had fol- 
lowed him the world over, he yielded, 
obtained pardon, lived a holy life, and 
soon after died in great peace. 

The Church of God has always had 
such " solar-light " believers. Isaiah 
speaks of them when he says, "All that see 
them shall acknowledge them, that .they 
are the seed which the L,ord hath blessed." 

Such a face had Alfred Cookman. 
Who that ever saw it can forget it? 
The vision of it has sent conviction to 
many a sinner's heart. "The beauty of 
holiness" was there. 

As he moved among us, and preached 
to us the Word of Iyife, thousands were 
moved to seek and find the "full salva- 
8 



Introduction. 

tion," to the possible attainment of 
which he bore such glorious witness. 

There are some expressions of Scrip- 
ture which must seem like poetic exag- 
gerations to an unspiritual mind; such 
as, " The peace of God which passe th all 
understanding ;" "Joy unspeakable and 
full of glory ;" "A weight of glory ;" 
but when these expressions are inter, 
preted in the light of such an expert 
ence as that of Alfred Cookman, they 
seem exactly fitted to describe it. 

Words less intense would not suit 
the case at all. When his countenance 
was in repose, you would think of the 
"peace that passeth all understanding ;" 
when preaching the Word, and break, 
ing the bread of life to the people, you 
would think of the "joy unutterable ;" 
and when, in answer to his prayer, the 
Holy Ghost fell upon the congregation 
you would think of and feel "the 
weight of glory." 

The holiness which Alfred Cookman 
professed and possessed is what the 

9 



Introduction* 

Church needs to-day — beyond all words 
to tell. 

Many well-meaning people who pro- 
fess this blessing are* " troublers of 
Israel," by their egotism, by their cen- 
sorious spirit, by their habit of finding 
fault with those who do not accept 
their teachings. There was nothing of 
this about Alfred Cookman. He was 
brilliant and effective in controversy, 
but always kind. 

It is said of Fletcher's controversial 
writings : " They were severe only in the 
keenness of their arguments." "They 
can be read by devout men even as aids 
to devotion." It was so with the ser- 
mons and writings of Alfred Cookman. 
No severe criticism ever fell from his 
lips. He drank in the very spirit of a 
little verse Bishop Capers once wrote 
in a lady's album — 

"Iyet me be tender when I touch 
The meanest name to Jesus dear, 
I^est my rude hand inflict a wound 
Where Jesus' mercy drops a tear." 



Introduction* 

He never believed in the denunciatory 
method of getting people to see the 
truth. 

He believed in the possibility of a 
victorious life in this world, and that 
is the most glorious dream that ever 
floated before a human soul. He sought 
with all his might to lead the Church 
he loved into this blessed experience. 
He was cheering on the Sacramental 
Host when the messenger came to sum- 
mon him home to heaven. When, as 
w r e thought, we needed him most, he 
disappeared from our sight for a little 
while. 

Dr. William McDonald has written 
the story of his life, and in doing this 
he has done the Church a great service. 
This little book should be universally 
read. Pastors who desire to kindle in 
their congregations a flame of revival, 
should circulate this book freely among 
the people. It teaches the " conquering 
theology " that never grows old — that 
never can be supplanted ; the theology 



Introduction* 

which is interwoven with the promises 
and prayers and prophecies of the Holy 
Scriptures so thoroughly that nothing 
but the utter destruction of almost 
every page of the book itself will get it 
out of the Church and out of the world. 
It is the theology of Paul, and Wesley, 
and Asbury. "By this sign conquer." 
Preach it, live it, and we shall see what 
John Fletcher spoke of as that " glori- 
ous wonder/ } a Pkntecostai, Church 

ON EARTH. 

CHARLES C. McCABE. 

12 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. PAGE 

Parentage and Childhood, - 15 

CHAPTER II. 

Shadows and Home Desolation, 28 

CHAPTER III. 

The Mother of Alfred Cookman, - 37 

CHAPTER IV. 
The Manly Youth and Family Counselor, 49 

CHAPTER V. 
The Great Salvation Experienced, - - 60 

CHAPTER VI. 
Natural Graces and Holy Life, 73 

CHAPTER VII. 

Ardent Love for American Bondmen, - 89 

13 



Contents* 

CHAPTER VIII. page 

'Alfred Cookman, a Model Family Man, 103 

CHAPTER IX. 

A Loving Leader of the National Holi- 
ness Movement, - 119 

CHAPTER X. 

The National Holiness Movement. — Con- 
tinued, 140 

CHAPTER XL 

The Successful Pastor and Persuasive 

Preacher, - - - - - - "~ - - 160 

CHAPTER XII. 
Pastor and Preacher. — Continued, - - 183 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Final Triumph : Sweeping Through the 

Gates, 208 

14 



LIFE SKETCHES 

OF 

REV. ALFRED COOKMAN. 

%%* 

CHAPTER I. 

PARENTAGE AND CHILDHOOD. 

CEW men have been called from the 
* Church Militant who have left a 
more widely-extended and hallowed in- 
fluence than Alfred Cookman. His 
dying words have been an inspiration 
to the Universal Church in all lands, 
and this influence must continue to be 
felt as the years go by. 

"He belonged to seraphic royalty/' 
said Bishop Foster, in an address de- 
livered at his funeral. "I have known," 
he continued, "the Church for thirty 
15 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

years; I have known the men of the 
Church during that time through all her 
ministry; and the most sacred man I 
have known" (looking down into the 
casket before him) "is he who is en- 
shrined in that casket." The following 
pages contain a brief memoir of this 
saintly man. 

Alfred Cookman was born in Colum- 
bia, Pennsylvania, a town on the Sus- 
quehanna River, January 4, 1828. His 
father, Rev. George G. Cookman, was 
an Englishman by birth, born in Hull, 
England, in 1800. His father was a 
local preacher among the Wesleyan 
Methodists, and, being a man of wealth, 
his son enjoyed the advantages of a care- 
ful academical education, as well as a 
thorough religious training. He early 
developed a rare ability for public speak- 
ing, especially at Sunday-school anni- 
versaries and similar meetings. 

When but twenty-one years of age, 
George G. Cookman made a business 
trip to America in the interests of his 
16 



Parentage and Childhood* 

father, and while here conceived a strong 
liking for the people and country. On 
his return to England, he devoted him- 
self to business, in company with his 
father, and for some four years he could 
be said to be "diligent in business, fer- 
vent in spirit, serving the Lord/' He 
finally was fully persuaded that it was 
his duty to preach the gospel, and, act- 
ing upon that decision, made some suc- 
cessful attempts. His father finally con- 
sented to release him, and, his mother 
concurring, he started again for America, 
in 1825. He was cordially received by 
the brethren in Philadelphia, and at the 
ensuing Annual Conference, he was re- 
ceived on probation, and stationed at 
Kensington. He was soon recognized 
as a man of extraordinary pulpit power. 
In 1827 he made a brief visit to Eng- 
land, and while there was married to 
Miss Mary Barton, of Doncaster, York- 
shire, April 2d. With his new helpmate, 
in all respects suited to aid him in his 
great work, he returned, without delay, 
2 17 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

to his field of labor in America. George 
G. Cookman spent the remainder of his 
life in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Mary- 
land, and the District of Columbia. Few 
ministers, if any, have ever labored in 
this country with more ceaseless en- 
ergy, unswerving devotion to God,, and 
marked success in *every field in which 
he was called to labor. 

No man in American Methodism — 
John Summerfield, perhaps, excepted — 
in the brief period in which he was per- 
mitted to labor, ever produced a more 
profound impression. He enjoyed a 
national reputation as the most brilliant 
and effective preacher in America. His 
unrivaled eloquence attracted all classes, 
from the highest officials of the nation 
to the humblest in society. When he 
spoke, in the pulpit or from the plat- 
form, it seemed that every nerve and 
muscle of his frame was full of excite- 
ment, and clearly indicated that his lips 
had been touched with a live coal from 
off God's altar, and his one aim seemed 
18 



Parentage and Childhood* 

to be, not to produce an effect, but to 
win men to God. 

In 1839 he was elected chaplain to 
the American Congress. Here, perhaps, 
his influence as a preacher was most 
widely felt. Great men bowed under 
his eloquent ^appeals, as forests are 
swayed by the tempest. He had the 
reputation of being a man of deep re- 
ligious devotion and of employing all 
of his great powers in winning men, 
not to himself, but to the Lord Jesus 
Christ. This seemed to be his sole aim. 

When he had completed his chaplaincy 
in Congress, in 1841, he arranged to 
visit England, mainly to see again his 
aged father, his mother having already 
passed to her reward. He sailed from 
New York, March nth, on the ill-fated 
steamship President, Neither the ship 
nor any of her company were ever after 
heard of. She may have foundered in 
a violent storm at sea, no one of the 
company escaping to tell the story of 
their end. 

19 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

Thus ended suddenly, and to the great 
grief of his young family and numerous 
friends and admirers, the life of the father 
of Alfred Cookman. 

Alfred bore the name of his honored 
uncle, but recently deceased, who, it 
seems, was a man of more than ordinary 
intellectual ability and moral excellence. 

The grandfather, on learning of his 
son's first-born, writes from Hull: "We 
were delighted to find the name Alfred 
should not become extinct in our family. 
May he exhibit a large share of his 
uncle's intellectual and moral character, 
and may his mental powers in due time 
become as vigorous as his person is 
likely to be robust ! May you receive 
him as a gift of God, and while you 
gratefully acknowledge his supporting 
and sustaining hand, may you and the 
child be entirely consecrated to him !" 
This prayer was answered, at least so 
far as Alfred was concerned ; for he was 
a man, like Stephen, "full of faith and 
the Holy Ghost." The mother felt for 
20 



Parentage and Childhood. 

a time that the gift of a son, however 
precious, was likely to abridge her fan- 
cied opportunities for such religious 
work as both she and her husband had 
hoped to do. But she subsequently 
learned, to her great joy, that to rear 
a Moses, who should lead God's people 
into 

" The land of rest from inbred sin, 
The land of perfect holiness," 

was a work as divinely appointed and 
as highly honored as the preaching of 
the gospel by any other method. 

When about four years of age, his 
father traveled the Talbot Circuit, on 
the Eastern Shore of Maryland. This 
was in the days of American slavery. 
It was on this circuit that Alfred had 
his first view of American slavery, but 
in its mildest forms. It was here he 
became most interested in slave children. 
He is said, at this early age, to have 
held religious services among them, and 
even went so far as to imitate the ordi- 

21 



Life Sketches of Rev# Alfred Cookman. 

nance of baptism. He would call for a 
bowl of water, cause them to kneel 
down, and then proceed to say: "Bob 
Trot, I baptize you in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Ghost. God bless you and make you 
a good boy!" This was not done in 
boyish sport, as one might suppose, but 
with great apparent seriousness, as often 
occurs with children who have been re- 
ligiously trained or have witnessed fre- 
quently such ceremonies. His mother 
was ever watching for every religious 
manifestation which looked toward the 
ministry; for her desire was quenchless 
that he might yet be a successful min- 
ister of the gospel. She hailed every 
such indication as evidence that God 
was preparing him for his future 
work. 

During these years Alfred, according 
to his mother's statement, was correct 
in his deportment, truthful, and very 
conscientious. His father is said to have 
impressed upon his youthful mind the 
22 



Parentage and Childhood* 

maxim, "Play when you play, and work 
when you work." 

From his fifth to his seventh year, 
while his father was pastor of St. 
George's Church, in Philadelphia, Alfred 
and his brother George were placed 
under the care of Miss Ann Thomas, 
a member of the Society of Friends, 
and under her careful instruction im- 
proved rapidly in the elementary 
branches of education. None regretted 
more deeply their departure from the 
school than their Quaker teacher. In 
writing to their mother, she says : "I 
can give my testimony respecting thy 
dear boys, that I have enjoyed great 
consolation in their company. While 
endeavoring to inform their little minds 
and give them a knowledge of literature, 
they have been attentive and obedient, 
very innocent, and strict to truth, and 
in almost everything what my heart 
could wish. Tell them to remember 
Miss Ann, who dearly loves them, and 
wishes them everlasting happiness." 

23 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

When seven years of age, his father 
was stationed in the city of Baltimore, 
Maryland, and under his marvelously 
effective ministry Alfred became deeply 
awakened. He persuaded his parents to 
allow him to attend a watch-night serv- 
ice, held in the old Exeter Street Church. 
His father preached on the occasion. 
His subject was "The Second Coming 
of Christ." In his own language, Alfred 
says : "Thinking that the end of the 
world was just at hand, I realized, for 
the first time, my unpreparedness for 
the trying scenes of the judgment, and 
trembled in prospect. I date my awak- 
ening from this time." His father was 
soon removed from Baltimore to Car- 
lisle, Pennsylvania, to meet a pressing 
demand of the Church. 

The Baltimore and Philadelphia Con- 
ferences had recently purchased of the 
Presbyterians Dickinson College, and 
there seemed no other man so well 
adapted to be stationed in that town as 
Mr. Cookman. They needed a man of 
24 



Parentage and Childhood. 

marked pulpit power, as well as deep 
devotion. The Faculty of the college 
consisted of John P. Durbin, Robert 
Emory, H. W. Allen, John McClintock, 
and A. A. Roszel. These men, fresh in 
their young manhood, and with George 
G. Cookman as their spiritual leader, 
were a company scarcely equaled in the 
land. Alfred was now only ten years 
of age, but old enough to be profoundly 
impressed with his peculiar surround- 
ings. Here he entered the grammar 
school with his brother George, and from 
what we can learn he was, in his own 
judgment, pressed in his studies almost 
beyond measure, or at least much be- 
yond what he thought needful, and in 
this respect was much like other boys 
of his age. 

It was at Carlisle, in the month of 
February, 1838, that Alfred Cookman 
was converted. A protracted meeting 
was being held, and he says : "I con- 
cluded 'now is the accepted time; now 
is the day of salvation. 5 One night, 
25 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

when a social meeting was held in the 
house of a friend, I struggled with my 
feelings, and, although it was a fearful 
cross, I urged my way to a bench which 
was specially appropriated for penitents. 
My heart was convulsed with peniten- 
tial sorrow; tears streaming down my 
cheeks, I said, 'J esus > Jesus, I give my- 
self away ; 't is all that I can do/ For 
some hours I sought, without, however, 
realizing the desire of my heart. The 
next evening I renewed the effort. The 
evening after that the service was held 
in the church; the altar was crowded 
with seekers, principally students from 
Dickinson College. There seemed to be 
no place for me, an angonizing child. 
I remember I found my way into one 
corner of the church. Kneeling all 
alone, I said, 'Precious Savior, thou art 
saving others ; O wilt thou not save 
me?' As I wept, a kind hand was laid 
upon my head. I opened my eyes, and 
found that it was Mr. James Hamilton, 
a prominent elder in the Presbyterian 
26 



Parentage and Childhoods 

Church in Carlisle. He had come to 
help me. I remember how sweetly he 
unfolded the nature of faith and the plan 
of salvation. I said, 'I will believe, I 
do believe, I now believe that Jesus is 
my Savior ; that he saves me, saves ; yes, 
me, even now/ Immediately, 

" The opening heavens did around me shine 
With beams of sacred bliss ; 

And Jesus showed his mercy mine, 
And whispered, 1 1 am His.' " 

"I love to think of it now," he says, 
in after years. "It fills my soul un- 
utterably full of gratitude and joy. 
'Happy day, O happy day, when Jesus 
washed my sins away V " 

His conversion seems to have been 
clear. The Spirit attested the work, and 
Alfred Cookman went on his way re- 
joicing. 

27 



CHAPTER II. 

SHADOWS AND HOME DESOLATION. 

AT the close of Mr. George G. Cook- 
** man's two years at Carlisle, he was 
removed to the National Capital. Other 
cities sought his services, but Wash- 
ington was successful in securing them. 
Wesley Chapel was the center of Meth- 
odist influence in the city. Many, 
including members of Congress, and 
visitors to the city from all denomina- 
tions, were attracted by the unexampled 
eloquence of Mr. Cookman. In 1838-39, 
Mr. Cookman was elected chaplain of 
the Senate, by a decided vote, over Rev. 
Henry Sheer, D. D. There does not 
seem to have been any special objection 
to Dr. Sheer, for he was subsequently 
elected to the same office ; but Mr. Cook- 
man captivated all classes, Whigs and 
Democrats, though he himself seems 
28 



Shadows. and Home Desolation* 

personally to have had no part in the 
matter. He seemed equally at home 
with the men of world-wide fame — the 
Websters, and Calhouns, and Clays, and 
Bentons, etc., as well as with the school- 
men of Carlisle. Strong men were 
awakened to a sense of their danger 
under his powerful ministry, among 
them Franklin Pierce, representative 
from New Hampshire. There is little 
doubt that Mr. Pierce intended to unite 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and abandon politics for the ministry; 
but family influences turned him aside 
from his purpose. He united with the 
Episcopal Church, and died a member 
of that communion. 

Alfred Cookman's removal to Wash- 
ington does not seem to have been help- 
ful to his piety. A change of scenery 
and associations had a tendency to turn 
his thoughts for a time from God, but 
not from his religious faith. Writing 
of this period, he says, "I fell in with 
new associates, who felt no interest in 
29 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

the subject of religion, and declined a 
little in my warmth and zeal, and par- 
took a little too much of their spirit." 
But this was of short duration. The 
camp-meeting season was at hand, and 
he expressed a desire to attend. On 
leaving for the camp-meeting, his mother 
said to him, "My son, I want you to 
seek at the meeting an entire restora- 
tion of your former happy experience, 
and regain every step you have lost by 
want of watchfulness/' He says : "Her 
counsel followed me to the forest. I 
sought God again. I remember the 
night. The struggle was long and pain- 
ful; it continued almost to the break- 
ing of day. Glory to God! However, 
He who said, 'Return unto me, back- 
sliding Israel, and I will heal thy back- 
sliding and love thee freely/ heard and 
answered, and restored unto me the joy 
of his salvation. O, how beautiful the 
following morning appeared ! The sky 
seemed bluer than before, the air sweeter, 
the trees greener, the landscape lovelier ; 
30 



Shadows and Home Desolation* 

all nature seemed to appear in a new 
dress. I felt like saying, 'Come, all ye 
who fear God, and I will tell you what 
he has done for my soul P My precious 
father had gone off the ground to spend 
the night. I knew the way he would 
most probably return. I hastened in 
that direction, saw him coming, sprang 
into his arms, fell on his neck, and told 
him how happy I was. Since then I 
have had a place in the Church of Jesus 
Christ. In the midst of great unfaith- 
fulness and unworthiness, God has borne 
with and preserved me, and now I feel 
to say, 

'Here I '11 raise mine Ebenezer, 
Hither by Thy help I 'm come.' 

'I attribute my conversion, under God, 
to the instruction, example, and influ- 
ence of pious parents." 

From that time to the end of life, 
camp-meetings were hallowed places to 
Alfred Cookman. While in Washing- 
ton he received many commendations 
3i 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

for successful efforts in public speaking, 
in which he seems to have indulged. It 
could scarcely be otherwise with such 
a mind as his, and in the very at- 
mosphere of national eloquence. Two 
years passed rapidly, and his father, 
still chaplain of the Senate, was removed 
to Alexandria, Virginia, then a part of 
the District of Columbia, but since re- 
ceded to the State of Virginia. 

Had Alfred seen only the milder forms 
of slavery, witnessed on the Eastern 
Shore of Maryland, his impressions of it 
would have been less abhorrent. But 
when he arrived at Alexandria he found 
that near his home was a slave-pen, 
where human beings were sold almost 
daily, and doomed to a life of unpaid 
service in the rice-swamps and cotton- 
fields of the South. Men, women, and 
children he saw behind iron grates, and 
manacled, for no crime save that they 
were born with black skins. Here he 
witnessed scenes which ought to have 
broken any human heart, and did quite 
32 



Shadows and Home Desolation* 

break the heart of young Cookman. It 
induced in him, from that time, a deep 
and lifelong abhorrence of that system 
of slavery which John Wesley pro- 
nounced "the vilest that ever saw the 
sun," and he never failed to give his 
voice and influence against it. 

One year later, 1841, his father's chap- 
laincy closed, and he arranged to visit 
England, and thought at first to take 
Alfred with him, but subsequently 
changed his purpose, Alfred saying, "I 
will stay with my mother, and help 
her take care of the children." His 
father's fame was commensurate with the 
American Republic, but that brilliant orb 
was soon to set at noonday. Among his 
last words to his children, as they sat 
by the fireside, were these/'Now, boys, 
if your father sinks in the ocean, his 
soul will go direct to God, and you will 
meet him in heaven." He preached his 
last sermon in the Vestry Street Meth- 
odist Church, New York City, Monday, 
March 9th, where he was to be stationed 
3 33 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

on his return. He had intended to take 
a Cunard steamer from Boston, but was 
induced to change his mind, and em- 
barked on board the steamship President, 
March nth, and, as we have before said, 
neither steamer nor passengers were ever 
after heard from. No voice from the 
sea ever came to tell the story of their 
end. There were many conjectures, but 
no facts upon which to base them. Both 
sides of the Atlantic felt deeply the ter- 
rible shock. The sorrow which fell upon 
the Cookman home can be better imag- 
ined than described. Day after day, and 
week after week, the suspense was heart- 
rending. Mrs. Cookman could not give 
up hope, but as time passed on and no 
tidings from the sea came, it was hope 
against hope. Alfred was the eldest of 
a family of six, and they looked to him 
for consolation. The mother was in the 
agonies of despair. It seemed at times 
as though her mind could not stand the 
fearful pressure. Hopes so bright, pros- 
34 



Shadows and Home Desolation* 

pects of usefulness and domestic bliss 
so inspiring to her enthusiastic heart, 
to be blighted in a day, and a darkness 
that could be more than felt succeed 
so suddenly, seemed utterly unbearable. 
The deepest gloom seemed to rest upon 
her for at least two years. She could 
not endure to hear her husband's name 
pronounced in her presence without the 
deepest sorrow, so that it was carefully 
avoided. Alfred was but thirteen years 
of age, but his composure in the presence 
of his afflicted, heartbroken mother was 
remarkable for one of his years. He used 
to say in after years, "How I did dread 
to return home from the post-office to 
meet my dear mother without a letter, 
and see her disappointment!" 

Alfred Cookman appears at this time 
a most remarkable youth. This great 
sorrow seems to have developed the 
latent force and godly wisdom of this, 
boy of thirteen years. He fully realized 
his position, and he faithfully tried, as 
35 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmaru 

his mother avers, to "fill up the chasm 
made By a wise though inscrutable 
Providence. Eternity alone will unfold 
all he was to the family as son and as 
brother in the years of his minority. ,, 
36 



CHAPTER III. 

THE MOTHER OF ALFRED COOKMAN. 

T^HIS seems a proper place to give 
* some account of the life and char- 
acter of Mrs. Cookman. We have al- 
ready spoken of her marriage to Mr. 
Cookman, April 2, 1827, and her coming 
to America, as she supposed, into a 
"wilderness," to spend her life in self- 
sacrifice and toil for the perishing. 
Instead of great sacrifice, she found her- 
self associated with the best society of 
the land, and her husband enjoying the 
greatest and most widely-extended 
honor which a grateful nation could be- 
stow on a messenger of God. All at 
once her highest hopes are blasted, and 
deep sorrow fills her soul. A large, 
young, and helpless family is left to her 
care, and her husband sleeping in the 
37 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

ocean's deepest bed. How changed her 
life ! But God's ways are not ours — 

" Sorrow touched by Him grows bright 
With more than raptured ray, 
As darkness shows us worlds of light 
We never saw by day." 

This great sorrow proved to be a great 
blessing. On the last anniversary of her 
marriage-day, she writes : "This is one 
of my very sacred anniversary seasons, 
which I cherish with deep and devout 
gratitude to the Author and Giver of 
all my temporal as well as spiritual gifts. 
The second day of April, 1827, made me 
one of the happiest, brightest individ- 
uals in the world. I say it without limi- 
tation, that to become the wife and 
sharer of such a man's life, with its 
toils, cares, trials, and triumphs, was 
bliss enough for me, honor enough to 
be his dearly-beloved and cherished 
companion, with his great, true, gener- 
ous heart beating and pulsating towards 
me always and everywhere. 
38 



The Mother of Alfred Cookman. 

"Mary Barton, when she became Mary 
Cookman, reached the acme of her high- 
est soaring of a true and happy life. 
Satisfaction and joy met us in every 
path in which we were called to walk, 
and our deep devotion knew no blight, 
until the last fearful gaze was exchanged, 
until the last fearful word was spoken, 
and he who had been all the world to 
me vanished from my sight. Little 
thought I of the sequel that was to 
come, the bitterness and grief, such as 
rarely falls to the lot of humanity, and 
yet so touched with mercy, which can 
never be appreciated by human thought 
and expressed by human language, un- 
til we reach the heights of the glory- 
land. I have known unspeakable joy, 
I have known the depths of sorrow, and 
yet the heights and depths of the love of 
Christ are more to me than the love of 
ten husbands" 

It was in the midst of this great sor- 
row that she found the great blessing 
of entire sanctification, which lifted her 
39 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

out of her sorrow. While she could see 
no justice, no mercy, no love in this 
dispensation of Providence, God led her 
to see that a Father's hand and a 
Father's loving heart were seeking her 
greatest good. He had taken her idol 
George, but he had given her himself, 
who is the "Chief among ten thousand, 
and the One altogether lovely." 

She came, with her children, by the 
aid of friends, to reside in Baltimore, 
near the Eutaw Street Methodist 
Church. It was in this church, on the 
holy Sabbath, as she knelt at the Lord's 
table, with a heart looking to God for 
comfort, as the Rev. Nelson Mead gave 
her the cup, saying, "The blood of our 
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, shed for 
thee/ 9 she felt in a moment that the 
blood of Jesus Christ did cleanse her 
from all sin. A great, unspeakable joy 
came into her heart, and her will was 
lost in the Divine will. Never for a 
moment thereafter "did she question 
God's justice, wisdom, and love." Christ 
40 



The Mother of Alfred Cookman. 

became all in all to her. Henceforth, 
on all fitting occasions, she continued 
to the end of life to give a clear, em- 
phatic testimony to the enjoyment of 
the blessing of entire sanctification. She 
never questioned her experience or the 
power of God to save to the uttermost. 
When Alfred, in his early ministry, 
would suggest doubts and difficulties on 
the subject, she would reply, "My son 
can never gainsay his mother's expe- 
rience/' and pressing her hand to her 
heart she would say, "Ah, Alfred, I 
know, I know." He knew the great 
sorrow out of which this experience had 
lifted her. No wonder she could say, 
"This love ©f Christ is more to me than 
the love of ten husbands." The deep 
sorrow through which she passed pre- 
pared her for the beautiful ministry of 
consolation and love to which she was 
soon called. She proved an angel of 
mercy in the homes of sorrow which 
she visited. 

Mrs. Cookman spent her last years 
4i 



Life Sketches of Rev, Alfred Cookman. 

with her youngest son, Rev. John E. 
Cookman, and her only daughter. "It 
gives an ideal completeness to her life," 
writes her son, "that God should per- 
mit her in these latter years to fulfill the 
hopes that were the dream of her girl- 
hood." 

Mrs. Cookman attributed her success 
in training her children to three things : 
"First, to the experience of entire sancti- 
fication ; second, to the strict observance 
of the Sabbath; third, to the watchful 
care over her boys after nightfall." 
Looking up into his mother's face a 
few hours before his death, Alfred said : 
"Precious mother, next to the Lord 
Jesus, I owe everything to you. Your 
influence, your example, your counsel, 
your prayers, have made me what I am, 
as a man, a Christian, and a Christian 
minister. " Such a testimony from a dy- 
ing son to a loving mother is golden, and 
is worthy to harig about the neck of 
maternal memory forever. 

About a year before her death, after 
42 



The Mother of Alfred Cookman. 

a severe sickness, she received a deeper 
baptism of the Holy Spirit, and she 
gave herself and her children to God in 
a renewed consecration. She placed her 
trembling hands upon their heads and 
implored for them the grace which had 
been given her. From that time she 
lived as one who had nothing to do 
on earth but work for God, and wait 
for his coming. It was a year of clear 
testimony to the blood that cleanseth 
from all sin. To all persons, in all 
places, and at all times, she testified to 
the power of Christ to save to the utter- 
most. She would often say, "Claim all 
your privileges, claim all your privileges 
in Christ. " Her language was : "Life 
or death, is all the same to me. I 
am ready to go when Jesus wants 
me." 

Of her end, a loving hand has penned 
the following: "She had spent a happy 
hour late in the afternoon in the Church, 
looking at preparations for an evening 
entertainment. She allowed herself to 
43 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmaru 

be drawn to the piano, and played some 
of the airs she had learned in girlhood. 
She then spent her hour before tea, as 
usual, in meditation and reading. She 
left her marker in her Bible at Revela- 
tion, twenty-second chapter, the very end 
of the sacred book. Her Bible and her 
life ended together. Called to the tea- 
table, she had broken bread with those 
nearest to her, when her hands were 
lifted, and she would have fallen, but 
for loving arms which caught her and 
laid her gently down. She immediately 
went into a state of unconsciousness, a 
sweet sleep ; no weariness, no distress, 
no pain. She lingered until Saturday 
morning, December 3, 1881, and at early 
dawn she went away. Without failure 
of faculties, in the midst of daily duties, 
without pain of prolonged suffering, 
without pangs of parting, in her own 
chamber, amid tender and sacred affec- 
tion, her eyes closed on earth and opened 
in heaven." Thus lived and died the 
mother of Alfred Cookman. Her char- 
44 



The Mother of Alfred Cookman. 

acter has been summed up in the follow- 
ing beautiful characteristic : 

"She was a woman of marked intel- 
lectual ability. Her letters were marvels 
of strength and beauty. t Through all her 
life she was accustomed to have a favor- 
ite book by her side, and in her very last 
years she was fully abreast of the thought 
of the times, and with eagerness and zest 
read the most recent and able works of 
the best authors. She had a remarkably 
cheerful spirit. After the one great be- 
reavement, no other grief had the power 
to depress. She had great capacity for 
enjoyment. All the good that came she 
took with unaffected thankfulness, and 
like good old Izaak Walton, as he angled 
by the streams of her native land, she 
could say, 'In every misery I miss, I 
see a new mercy.' She laughed merrily 
at what was mirthful, and her presence 
never cast a damper on any honest joy. 
Her magnetic power in attracting the 
young was unusual, and surrounded by 
happy groups of young people, she 
45 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman, 

would seem, by her enthusiasm and 
pleasure, to be the youngest of them all. 
What was more striking was her perfect 
naturalness, especially in her Christian 
life. She was the embodiment of sim- 
plicity and godly sincerity. Her manners 
were charming and above affectation, 
yet she had a dignity which was quick, 
tender, and true. Hers was, indeed, a 
heart at leisure from itself to soothe and 
sympathize. While her tears were ready 
to flow at the recital of a story of misery 
and woe, her hand was no less quickly 
reached out in healing. She loved not 
in word only, but in deed and in truth. 
Her will was heroic, fearless, and mighty, 
and had it been unsanctified, would have 
been a power for evil ; but washed in the 
blood of the Lamb, it became the strong 
and principled champion of righteous- 
ness. 

"Over the natural virtues that strength- 
ened her character, and the graces that 
ornamented it, was shed the pure and 
steady light of her religious faith. This, 
46 



The Mother of Alfred Cookmaru 

while adding freshness and beauty, so 
unified all, that it made her character one 
of wondrous symmetry." (Christian Ad- 
vocate.) 

Is it any wonder that, with such a 
mother, Alfred Cookman should have 
been the man he was? 

Rev. John E. Cookman, youngest son 
of this good woman, a son greatly be- 
loved, and with whom she spent her later 
years, died March 29, 1891. He was an 
eloquent and successful preacher. Rev. 
E. H. Stokes, in a little poem, describes 
him thus : 

"Spirit meek, heart un defiled, 
Life as gentle as a child.'* 

Some years before his death he, for some 
cause, left the Methodist, and united with 
the Protestant Episcopal Church. But 
it does not seem to have affected, un- 
favorably, his spirituality. Some ex- 
tracts from a letter, written to a sister-in- 
law a few days before his death, will give 
the reader some idea of the state of his 
47 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmaru 

mind. He says : "Why I have been shut 
away for almost a year from earnest 
Christian service, in saving men, and 
shut up to pain and distress, with daily 
and hourly entering into the valley of the 
shadow of death, I know not. He know- 
eth, and I am content to rest in his love. 
There have not only been physical up- 
holdings, but marvelous manifestations 
of Divine grace and goodness as have 
made my poor heart a constant chime of 
golden bells to His praise and glory. 
Sometimes great baptisms of power, 
sweetness, and love have swept through 
my soul, and I have been unutterably 
filled with glory and with God. The 
sweet fragrance has lingered like a grace 
of the skies for days afterwards. Some- 
times a strange, gentle, then quiet peace 
that passeth understanding, has passed 
over me. O such ineffable peace! O 
how I long with a heart-hunger once 
more to stand in the Church of Christ, 
and proclaim my dear Lord as an all- 
sufficient Savior!" 

48 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE MANLY YOUTH AND FAMILY 
COUNSELOR. 

ALFRED was accustomed to lean upon 
** his father in everything and for 
everything. But now, mother, brothers, 
and sister all turn to him; and he, a boy 
of thirteen, takes the burden, leaning 
only on God. His mother says that this 
great affliction "brought out, in all their 
force and power, what had been until 
now the germs of Alfred's character. He 
realized his position as the oldest of six 
children, and faithfully tried to fill up 
the chasm made by a wise though in- 
scrutable Providence. Eternity alone 
will unfold all he was to his family as a 
son and a brother in the years of his 
minority." 

Mr. George Cookman his grandfather, 
writes to him from Hull about this time, 
4 49 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

saying to him, in the most tender man- 
ner: "I look to you, my dear Alfred, as 
an important coadjutor with your dear 
mother in forming the habits and char- 
acter of your family; and it gives me in- 
expressible pleasure to learn, from your 
dear mother's letter, that there is every 
reason to hope that my expectations in 
this respect will be fully realized. Rest 
assured that you will be looked up to 
by the younger members of the family, 
and in setting them a good example, in 
cheerfully obliging your dear mother, in 
promptly and affectionately obeying her 
command, and in sympathizing with her 
under the pressure of family trials and 
bereavements, you will greatly lighten 
her burdens, alleviate her sufferings, and 
minister, in no inconsiderable degree, to 
her peace, comfort, and happiness." 

He urges upon him, also, that he "pay 
unremitting attention to his education ;" 
citing his father's example at his age, 
saying: "It was by adopting this course 
also that your dear Uncle Alfred became 
50 



The Manly Youth and Family Counselor. 

so distinguished, both at home among 
his friends, as well as when he was a stu- 
dent at the university. I trust their 
mantle will fall on you, my dear boy, and 
that you will emulate their talents and 
virtues." 

In answer to this letter, Alfred thanks 
his grandfather for his kind advice, say- 
ing: "Rest assured that I shall always 
comply with the wishes of dear mother, 
and in every way in my power aim to 
make her happy." 

While residing in Baltimore for the 
next few years, he was favored with the 
instructions of Messrs. Robert H. Patti- 
son, Perley R. Lovejoy, and John H. 
Dashiell. These men he had known as 
students at Carlisle. He took prizes in 
Mr. Burleigh's school for elocution, for 
an essay on Simplicity, and for exercises 
in Latin. He delivered an oration on the 
Fourth of July which was very credit- 
able for one of his years. He paid some 
attention to Greek. 

While his mother was employed in 
5i 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman* 

Christian work, which often took her 
from home in the evening, Alfred would 
remain at home with the children, as- 
sisting them in their lessons, and con- 
ducting with them family devotions in 
his mother's absence. 

At the early age of seventeen he seems 
to have evinced more or less familiarity 
with matters relating to Church and 
State, always placing himself squarely on 
the side of right, whether it related to 
the subject of slavery or temperance. It 
has been justly said that a "heart more 
responsive to the weal of the Nation and 
the Church never throbbed than in the 
bosom of Alfred Cookman." 

In 1845, Mr. Cookman seemed to have 
commenced his life-work, but more as 
an evangelist than a preacher. In the 
Charles Street Church there was a body 
of young men, Alfred being the youngest 
of the number, who were moved with 
sympathy for a class of sailors who were 
confined to the waters of Chesapeake 
Bay, no one seeming to care for their 
52 



The Manly Youth and Family Counselor* 

souls. These young men rented a small 
sail-loft, and opened it for religious serv- 
ice. Here they labored for the salvation 
of these seamen with success. Rev. S. 
Kramer gives an account of Alfred's first 
sermon. It was at the time he was aid- 
ing in these Bethel services. He says : 
"I felt a deep interest in Alfred, believing 
him called of God to the work. As a 
local preacher, I had appointments regu- 
larly, one of which was at Washington 
Factory, five miles out of the city. One 
Sabbath morning I asked Alfred to ac- 
company me, and he consented. I said 
nothing to him about taking any part 
in the services until we were on the road ; 
then in my carriage I entered into con- 
versation with him on the subject of his 
call to the ministry. He admitted hav- 
ing a strong impression that way; but 
said his way was not open. He would let 
the Lord make his duty plain. I said 
somewhat abruptly, 'Alfred, you must 
preach for me to-day.' 'O no/ he re- 
plied, 'I have no license even to exhort, 
53 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

and it would not do.' I said : 'You must 
make a beginning, an<j. I will take the 
responsibility. I feel that it will be right 
for you to do so/ When we arrived at 
the place of preaching, I took him and 
Brother Griffin, who accompanied us, 
into the pulpit, and made Alfred open the 
services. After singing and prayer, I 
handed him the Bible, telling him to se- 
lect a text and go on, and I would pray 
for him, and Brother Griffin would fol- 
low. He was at length persuaded to 
stand up and announce a text, and 
preached his first sermon then and there, 
in his schoolboy jacket. It was a pleas- 
ant spring morning, and while I can not 
recall the exact words of the text, I re- 
member distinctly the sermon was on the 
Christian warfare. God owned the word, 
and we were greatly blessed. When we 
returned to the city, and I drove to his 
home, his dear mother came out and met 
us, and when I told her what he had 
done, she said it was the fulfillment of 
her prayers and heart's desire." 
54 



The Manly Youth and Family Counselor. 

Soon after this a young man belong- 
ing to the "Bethel Fraternity/' after a 
protracted illness, passed away. His 
death was a signal triumph. The friends 
of the good man desired Alfred to pre- 
pare a funeral discourse, which he did, 
and delivered it in the lecture-room of 
the Charles Street Church. This, his 
biographer, Dr. Ridgaway, says was his 
first sermon ; but according to the state- 
ment of Rev. Mr. Kramer, it was not his 
first. There is no doubt that this second 
sermon was more carefully prepared, and 
delivered with a feeling and a style more 
impressive than his first, offhand sermon 
before named. He seems to have been 
at that time modest in his manner and 
ardent in his feelings, as was always 
characteristic of him. 

November i, 1845, Alfred Cookman 
received a license as an exhorter in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. This was 
done by the Charles Street Station, Bal- 
timore. July 7, 1846, he received license 
by the same Church to preach. His li- 
55 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

cense bears the signature of Rev. John 
A. Collins, presiding elder. Mr. Col- 
lins affirmed that Alfred was more pro- 
ficient in his examination than any other 
young man who had ever come before 
him for license. 

He is said to have been at this time 
quite proficient in Latin, Greek, German,, 
and French; but "humility and timidity 
were his peculiar characteristics, which 
kept him from anything like display or 
assumption." 

Alfred decided to enter upon his life- 
work as an itinerant Methodist preacher. 
The family decided to remove to Phila- 
delphia, and make that their future home. 
It was the Conference that George G. 
Cookman first joined; it was in a free 
State, and everything combined to make 
it a most desirable residence for the fam- 
ily. Alfred had desired to unite with the 
Philadelphia Conference. He had al- 
ready been invited by Rev. James Mc- 
Farland, presiding elder of the Confer- 
ence, to supply the place of Rev. D. D. 
56 



The Manly Youth and Family Counselor* 

Lore, who had been appointed mission- 
ary to Buenos Ayres. He accepted the 
invitation, and after the family was com- 
fortably settled, he started for his ap- 
pointment. It was no small sacrifice for 
Alfred Cookman to leave his mother and 
the other members of his family. But, 
believing that God called, he mounted 
his faithful "Gerry/' and was on his way 
to Attleboro Circuit, under charge of 
Rev. James Hand, presiding elder. Of 
his departure he says : "Quitting one of 
the happiest homes to enter the itinerant 
work, my excellent mother remarked 
upon the threshold of my departure, 'My 
son, if you would be supremely happy or 
supremely useful in your work, you must 
be an entirely sanctified servant of Je- 
sus/ My mother's passing but pointed 
remark followed me like a good angel, 
as I moved to and fro in my first sphere 
in itinerant life." 

On this first circuit, though deprived 
of many of the comforts he had enjoyed, 
he shrank from no duty, submitted joy- 
57 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman* 

fully to all the hardships of that hilly 
country. He became very sick. "De- 
bility and pain," he says, "seemed to 
have seized my entire system, and I was 
sick, very sick ;" but, through the mercy 
of God, he soon recovered and was at 
his work again. 

The Philadelphia Conference held its 
session in 1847, m Wilmington, Dela- 
ware. Bishop Hamline presided. Al- 
fred Cookman made application for 
admission to the Conference. The 
Conference was so full that the bishop 
recommended that they receive none on 
trial, and the Conference so voted. This 
was a great disappointment to Alfred; 
but he accepted it as the order of Provi- 
dence, and consented to serve another 
year under the presiding elder. He was 
employed by Rev. Daniel Lambdin, on 
the Delaware City Circuit. Robert Mc- 
Narmee was preacher-in-charge. This 
circuit proved to be much more agree- 
able to the young itinerant than Attle- 
boro Circuit. The people were more 
58 



The Manly Youth and Family Counselor. 

intelligent, and their homes more invit- 
ing. He had no permanent home; but 
staid around among the people as it 
was agreeable. He was received most 
cordially and listened to as a messenger 
from God. 

In the spring of 1848, Alfred applied 
again for admission to the Conference, 
and was received as a probationer, and 
appointed to Germantown Circuit, in- 
cluding Chestnut Hill. We have now 
followed Alfred Cookman from his child- 
hood until his union with the Philadel- 
phia Conference, at the age of twenty 
years. We must now proceed to con- 
sider him, not so much in detail, as to 
present the marked characteristics of his 
life, which will include much of detail. 
59 



CHAPTER V. 

THE GREAT SALVATION EXPERIENCED. 

AI7E have spoken of Alfred's conver- 
* * sion at Carlisle at the age of ten 
years, under the ministry of his father, 
and of his full reclamation at a camp- 
meeting near Washington, D. C. We 
are now to consider that added work, 
known as entire sanctification, which, 
in all his subsequent life, was the sun 
of his soul, the continual theme of his 
ministry, and the splendor of his remark- 
able career. Alfred Cookman was not a 
genius, and will never go down to pos- 
terity as such ; he was not a profoundly 
intellectual character; he will never be 
known as possessed of a towering intel- 
lect. He was not a great theologian, 
nor a master of science or philosophy, 
though he possessed a beautiful mind, a 
clear and strong intellect. He did not 
60 



The Great Salvation Experienced* 

possess the power of eloquence, like a 
Summerfield, a Maffitt, or even his own 
honored father. Yet he was not defect- 
ive in these excellences ; but he will live 
in the Church, and the fragrance of his 
life will go down to the latest generation 
as a saintly character, whose life was a 
constant testimony that "the blood of 
Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin," 

While on his first circuit — Attleboro — 
he says, "I frequently felt to yield myself 
to God, and pray for the grace of entire 
sanctification." But it seemed so high 
as not to be reached by him, and, if ob- 
tained, it could not be retained. "My be- 
setments and trials are such," he says, 
"I could not successfully maintain so 
lofty a position." A new church had 
been erected at Newtown, one of his 
principal appointments on his first cir- 
cuit, and the services of that saintly man, 
Bishop Hamline, were secured to dedi- 
cate it. After the dedication, the bishop 
and his devoted wife remained for some 
days, the bishop preaching frequently, 
61 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookmaru 

and always with an unction which moved 
the heart of Alfred. The good bishop 
and his wife took occasion to converse 
with him on his religious experience, 
and urged him to seek the higher Chris- 
tian life, and at once. In speaking of the 
bishop, he says : "His gentle and yet 
dignified bearing, devotional spirit, 
beautiful Christian example, unctuous 
manner, divinely-illuminated face, apos- 
tolic labors, and fatherly counsels made 
a profound impression on my mind and 
heart. I heard him as one sent from 
God. His influence, so hallowed and 
blessed, has not only remained with me 
ever since, but even seems to increase 
as I pass along in my sublunary pil- 
grimage." 

At the close of an afternoon sermon, 
in which the bishop urged the people to 
seize the present opportunity to do what 
they, as believers, had often desired, re- 
solved, and prpmised to do; viz., "yield 
themselves to God, as those who were 
alive from the dead," and from that hour 
62 



The Great Salvation Experienced* 

trust constantly in Jesus as a Savior — 
as their Savior from all sin — Alfred was 
among the number who said, "I will, by 
the help of the Almighty Spirit, I will," 
and kneeling, he says, "I brought an en- 
tire consecration to the altar — Christ." 
He perceived clearly the difference be- 
tween the consecration now required, 
and that made at conversion. Then he 
brought powers, as he says, "dead in 
trespasses and sins ;" now he brings 
"powers that are permeated with the new 
life of regeneration, so that the sacrifice 
became a living sacrifice." Then he 
seemed to mass his offering, and give 
himself away, not fully understanding 
what was embraced in such surrender, 
simply saying: 

"Here, Lord, I give myself away; 
'T is all that I can do." 

Now, with clear light, "it was more in- 
telligent, specific, and careful, embrac- 
ing hands, feet, senses, attributes of heart 
and mind, time, reputation, kindred, 
63 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

worldly sustenance — everything/' Then 
he was "anxious for pardon;" now "for 
purity and the conscious presence of the 
Sanctifier in his heart." With this con- 
secration, carefully made, he says; "I 
covenanted with my own heart, and with 
my Heavenly Father, that this entire, 
but unworthy, offering should remain 
upon the altar, and that henceforth I 
would please God, by believing that the 
altar— Christ— sanctified the gift." The 
effect which followed was a "broad, deep, 
full, satisfying, sacred peace/' proceed- 
ing not only from the testimony of a 
good conscience before God, but from 
the presence of the Spirit in the heart." 
But with this evidence he could not say 
that he was fully sanctified, only that he 
was set apart unto God. The following 
day, in company with Bishop and Mrs. 
Hamline, he ventured to tell them what 
he had done ; and in the act of confess- 
ing, he realized a degree of light and 
strength. Prayer was proposed, and 
while they were kneeling, he says, "God, 
64 



The Great Salvation Experienced* 

for Christ's sake, gave me the Holy 
Spirit as I had never received him before, 
so that I was constrained to confess : 

''Tis done! Thou dost this moment save, 
With full salvation bless ; 
Redemption through Thy blood I have, 
And spotless love and peace.* 

The great work of sanctification, for 
which I had so often hoped and prayed, 
was wrought in me — even me. I could 
not doubt it. The evidence in my case 
was as direct and indubitable as the wit- 
ness of my sonship, received at the time 
of my adoption into the family of heaven. 
O, it was glorious, Divinely glorious !" 
This experience inaugurated a new 
epoch in the life of Alfred Cookman. 
"Rest in Jesus, an abiding assurance of 
purity through the blood of the Lamb, 
conscious union and communion with 
God, increased power, not only to do, 
but to suffer the will of God, delight in 
the Master's service, fear of grieving the 
Holy Spirit, love for and a desire to be 
~5 6 5 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

with the entirely sanctified, joy in relig- 
ious conversation, comfort and freedom 
in prayer, illumination in the perusal of 
the sacred Word, increased unction in 
the performance of public duties, — these 
were among the blessed fruits of this 
new life." 

Sad as it may seem, this delightful 
state of mind continued for only eight 
short weeks, when the fullness of the 
Comforter was withdrawn. And this is 
the sad experience of multitudes of those 
who profess this grace. With some it is 
one thing, with others another. The 
Spirit of God, by whom we are sanctified, 
is a jealous Spirit, easily grieved and 
driven from the heart. The saintly John 
Fletcher lost this experience four or five 
times, before he became established in 
the grace of complete redemption. With 
Alfred Cookman, it was on this wise. 
During the session of his first Confer- 
ence, he found himself associated with 
a company of joking, story-telling min- 
isters, of whom there are vastly too 
66 



The Great Salvation Experienced* 

many for the honor of the Master whom 
they professed to serve. Being young in 
experience, and forgetting how easily 
the Spirit is grieved, he allowed himself 
to be drawn into the tide, and found him- 
self indulging in trifling conversation. 
As he returned from Conference to his 
new field of labor, he became conscious 
of a loss of spiritual power. Instead of 
coming with humble confession at once 
to the blood of cleansing for immediate 
forgiveness and restoration, he lost his 
way, and for several years lived without 
the blessing, which had filled him with so 
much delight. 

It is not uncommon that good men, 
losing this experience, fall into great 
errors with respect to the doctrine of en- 
tire sanctification. This was the case 
with Alfred Cookman. To satisfy his 
conscience, he tells us that he accepted 
the dogma that sanctification, as a work 
of the Holy Spirit, could not involve an 
experience distinct from regeneration. 
We do not speak unadvisedly when V 
67 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

aver that two-thirds of those who claim x 
to hold and advocate this, as most be- 
lieve., unscriptural dogma, once professed, 
to enjoy the sanctifying grace of God 
as a work subsequent to regeneration. 
They first lost the enjoyment of heart- 
purity, and without its true light to guide 
them they have wandered about for a 
time in the dark, scarcely knowing what 
to believe, and have finally accepted this 
dogma, as some would say, a little better 
than nothing — a dogma which Mr. Wes- 
ley persistently resisted during his entire 
ministry — and have by it sought to sat- 
isfy their hungry souls. But some, like 
Alfred Cookman, have returned. 

Of these years, Alfred Cookman says: 
"O, how many precious years I wasted 
in quibbling and debating respecting the- 
ological differences ! not seeing that I 
was antagonizing a doctrine that must 
be 'spiritually discerned/ and the tend- 
ency of which is manifestly to bring peo- 
ple nearer to God." 

It was during these sad years of Al- 
6$ 



The Great Salvation Experienced* 

frecTs life that he, like many who lose 
their religious enjoyment, contracted the 
habit of smoking, which very generally 
saps the foundation of piety, and keeps 
thousands, as it did him, from the foun- 
tain of cleansing. It was to him a very 
great temptation. Though he manufac- 
tured excuses for the indulgence, he felt 
that the practice was costing him too 
much in the matter of his religious en- 
joyment. After all his reasonings and 
quibblings, he found a lack of spiritual 
life. His experience, he says, "was not 
steady, round, full, or abiding." 

The friends of holiness insisted on 
three steps, which to him seemed reason- 
able : i. Entire sanctification ; 2. Ac- 
ceptance of Jesus, moment by moment, 
as a perfect Savior; 3. A meek bul; defi- 
nite confession of the grace received. 
Then, his Newtown experience, which 
had not fully passed from his memory, 
supplied an overwhelming confirmation 
of what seemed so reasonable, and at 
the same time furnished a powerful stim- 
69 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

ulus to the performance of the duty. He 
finally resolved to cast aside all precon- 
ceived theories, doubtful indulgences, 
culpable unbelief, and return to the 
"Mighty to save." He again rededicated 
himself to God, surrendered the doubtful 
indulgence — tobacco — and accepted 
Christ as the Savior from all sin, and 
again claimed the witness of the Spirit to 
his entire sanctification. On doing this, 
all the bliss of his former experience re- 
turned, and he was enabled to walk in 
the King's "highway of holiness," con- 
scious that "the blood of Jesus Christ 
cleansed him from all unrighteousness." 
Ten years later, he says : "I have been 
walking in the light as God is in the 
light. I have fellowship with the saints, 
and humbly testify that the blood of 
Jesus cleanseth me from all sin." 

Walking one day with a friend, they 
passed two distinguished ministers, one 
of whom was smoking. Alfred re- 
marked : "I can understand how that 
brother enjoys that cigar. I used to en- 
70 



The Great Salvation Experienced. 

joy it as he does. I was very fond of it, 
especially after my day's work was done. 
It was so quieting to my nervous system 
to rest in my easy chair, with my cigar 
for my companion. And I gave it up for 
Jesus' sake. I remember I told Jesus 
how soothing to me this delicate nar- 
cotic was, and that it had occurred to me 
that it was a doubtful indulgence. And 
yet I did not know but I needed it. 
Jesus told me in that hour that he would 
supply all my need; that he would soothe 
me, and quiet me, and rest me after my 
labor, and I gave up the indulgence 
from that hour. And since that time, 
never can I tell what Jesus has been to 
me, as I have sat in my arm-chair to rest 
when wearied and alone with him. He 
has been my rest." 

From the hour that Alfred Cookman 
rededicated himself to God, and received 
again the witness of heart-purity, to the 
time that he ended his glorious career, 
he never wavered in his faith, never fal- 
tered in his testimony to the power of 
7i 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmacu 

Jesus' blood to cleanse him from all sin. 
But for his experience and advocacy of 
the doctrine of entire sanctification, Al- 
fred Cookman would never have been 
known and revered the world around as 
the "most sacred" of men. His elo- 
quence would have been forgotten, his 
pleasing manner and winning address 
would have ceased to be remembered. 
But his holy life, his gentle, earnest, un- 
affected character is an inspiration to the 
Church in its struggles for freedom from 
sin, and must ever be till "Jesus comes 
to be glorified in his saints, and to be 
admired of all them that believe." 
72 



CHAPTER VI. 

NATURAL GRACES AND HOLY LIFE. 

ALFRED COOKMAN was well born. 
** He inherited a natural dignity not 
common to most men. There was a 
beauty in his form, an elegance and an 
ease in his manner, a natural dignity in 
his deportment which were not artificial, 
not put on, but purely natural, and which 
made him a marked personage. There 
is no doubt that his "fine physical fiber 
had much to do with the delicacy of his 
feelings. " He was the farthest removed 
from any form of affectation, and "there 
was nothing human which was foreign 
to him." He was in height five feet nine 
inches, and well proportioned. He had 
a full, round chest, a head of medium 
size. His hair was rich, glossy black, 
his eyes gray, large and full, not pierc- 
ing, but lustrous. His nose was straight, 
73 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmaru 

his mouth wide, lips moderately full, his 
chin round and smoothly-shaven. The 
whole face impressed the intelligent ob- 
server that he was in the presence of a 
man of marked trustworthiness. His 
fresh, ruddy, clear complexion, his firm, 
sinewy step, his erect carriage, all com- 
bined to make him a marked man. 

To clothe this fine personality with 
the beauty of holiness was to raise him 
to a dignity, not angelic, but graciously 
sacred. Bishop Foster pronounced him 
"the most sacred man I have ever 
known." 

It is one thing to experience the grace 
of entire sanctification, and quite another 
thing to exemplify the beauty of holiness 
in the life. 

It is doubtful if any man of modern 
times has manifested this rich experience 
in so extraordinary a manner as Rev. 
John Fletcher, of Madelay, England. 
One not in sympathy with his teachings, 
and who had felt the keen edge of his 
Damascus blade, the Rev. Henry Venn, 
74 



Natural Graces and Holy Life. 

writing to Dr. Stillingfleet, says : "I was 
for six weeks in the home with the ex- 
traordinary and very excellent Mr. 
Fletcher. O that I might be like him ! 
I do assure you that I strictly observed 
him for six weeks, and never heard him 
speak anything but what was becoming 
as a pastor of Christ's Church; not a 
single unbecoming word of himself, nor 
of his antagonists, nor of his friends. All 
his conversation tended to excite to 
-greater love and thankulness for the ben- 
efits of redemption, while his whole de- 
portment breathed humility and love. 
We had many conversations. I told him 
most freely that I w T as shocked at many 
things in his 'Checks/ and pointed them 
out to him. We widely differ about the 
efficacy of Christ's death, the nature of 
justification, and the perfection of the 
saints ; but I believe we could live years 
together in great love." 

Mr. Fletcher won greater victories by 
his life than by his logic, though the 
latter has done much to establish be- 
75 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman* 

lievers in the faith of free and full 
redemption. 

Alfred Cookman did more by his life 
than by his pen or voice. No one could 
be in his presence for any considerable 
time but would be forced to say, as 
Henry Venn said of Mr. Fletcher, "O 
that I might be like him !" 

His holiness was not simply external, 
not . manufactured for the occasion. 
There was no attempt to appear sancti- 
monious in any way above others. It 
was all of grace, and really spontaneous. 
He seemed the most natural of men. 
His very countenance was an index to 
his heart. He seemed to impress all 
who came in contact with him. "I never 
come into his presence/' said one of his 
official members, "without going away 
a better man. He seems to captivate 
everybody with whom he comes in con- 
tact." Rev. R. P. Smith says : "He lived 
Christ, and reflected the beauty of the 
Man Christ Jesus as much as I can con- 
ceive of any human being doing." "I 
76 



Natural Graces and Holy Life. 

do not think that I was ever in his com- 
pany, even for five minutes, without feel- 
ing painfully my own deficiencies and 
being deeply stirred to follow him as he 
so manifestly followed Christ. I always 
left him to seek more of the grace and 
power of God in my soul. Yet he was 
gentle as a child, and seemed, in his 
simplicity and genuine love, to make 
each one feel that he was the object of 
his special affection." He claimed to 
possess the abiding Comforter con- 
stantly, and no one with whom he associ- 
ated ever questioned that he possessed 
all that he professed. 

Writing to Rev. M. C. Briggs, D. D., 
he said : "I am wonderfully enjoying my 
home in the heart of the Lord Jesus. 
My life, as I humbly trust, is hid with 
Christ in God. This locates me at the 
secret source of every blessed thing." 

Writing to a friend in Wilmington, 
Delaware, about the same time, he says : 
"In the life of faith I have been con- 
stantly associated with the Lord Jesus, 
77 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmaru 

and he has been ever ruling all for my 
spiritual advantage. When I left my 
Wilmington friends, whom I loved so 
tenderly, he gave me to realize that I 
might not quit for a moment his blessed 
side. When I was without a home, he 
sweetly reminded me of my permanent 
mansion that he is arranging for my en- 
joyment. When, I had the trial of meet- 
ing and preaching to a strange people, 
he kindly whispered, %o, I am with you 
alway/ and then vindicated his encour- 
aging truth. When I sat down in our 
present comfortable abode, I said, 'All 
this is of God/ I love the Infinite Giver 
more for his unmerited and multiplied 
gifts. And thus my unsettlement, and 
then my settlement again, have both 
been pressed into the service and re- 
dounded to the advantage of my higher 
spiritual nature." 

"It was Martin Luther who said : 'God 

dwells in Salem rather than in Babylon/ 

Bless his holy name! He makes my 

heart 'Salem/ and then he himself abides 

7? 



Natural Graces and Holy Life. 

in the midst of his sacred quiet and satis- 
fying place. His precious voice, still 
small and sweet, could not be heard amid 
the confusion of Babylon ; but O ! in this 
Salem of peace we listen, and hear him 
only speak !" 

These utterances tell of his conscious 
and perpetual abiding in "the secret 
place of the Most High." 

Rev. Mr. Ballard says of him: "The 
atmosphere of the atonement was the 
residence of his .spirit. He was my con- 
ception of a hero — modest, unassuming, 
unpretentious. He was yet firm as a 
rock where his convictions were at stake. 
In his position regarding the doctrine 
of personal holiness this was eminently 
true. It cost him small sacrifices, to 
which he never alluded ; it risked a pop- 
ularity, which was eminent ; but none of 
these things moved him ; calmly and un- 
pretentiously he avowed his convictions, 
and pressed the doctrine everywhere, 
never underestimating his brethren who 
differed from him, and never withdraw- 
79 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookmaiu 

ing the warmth of his attachment on this 
account. Such a man is a hero, and such 
a hero was Alfred Cookman." 

Bishop Simpson spoke of him, at his 
funeral, as having been twice his pas- 
tor, once in Pittsburg, and then in Phila- 
delphia: "Years ago he was the pastor 
of my family in Pittsburg, and my chil- 
dren became attached to him as their 
friend. And since we have been in the 
city of Philadelphia he was again our 
pastor, and I saw him go in and out. 
He stood by the dying bed of one I 
loved, and his words and counsels were 
those of a Christian minister. I say that 
during all the time I knew him, I never 
heard one word or saw the manifesta- 
tion of any spirit inconsistent with the 
highest forms of. the Christian life. In 
the pulpit, and out of it, at the fireside, 
or wherever he was, a faithful, pious 
leader of the people and follower of the 
Lord Jesus Christ, himself deeply de- 
voted, he was very anxious to see the 
higher type of religion prevailing in the 
So 



Natural Graces and Holy Life. 

Church, and very often his theme was 
Christian holiness. I think, as he stands 
before the Throne, he does not regret 
that so often his theme was, 'Be ye holy, 
for I am holy/ I rejoice to say, he 
taught only the doctrine which a happy 
experience and godly life justify." 

These words seemed carefully chosen, 
and were uttered with the deepest feel- 
ing. And as we listened to them, they 
appeared to us wise and truthful. The 
vast crowd to which they were addressed 
gave evidence, by their deep emotion 
and tearful countenances, that they re- 
garded them as eminently fitted to de- 
scribe the character of their friend and 
brother. 

Rev. Thomas M. Eddy, D. D., said: 
"He was the saintliest man I have ever 
known." 

One of his loving parishioners said of 
him : "The basis of his character, so 
beautifully developed and maintained, 
was an unwavering faith in God, and a 
sincere love and genuine sympathy for 
6 81 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

his fellow-men. His character and life 
afforded a beautiful example of that en- 
tire self-consecratiori which was his spe- 
cial ministry to preach/' 

Rev. Andrew Longacre, his lifelong 
friend, says : "To many of us he was what 
Tennyson calls his friend : 

'The sweetest soul 
That ever looked through human eyes.' 

I need not remind you that his experi- 
ence" (of holiness) "had in it nothing of 
self-exaltation. He never failed to dis- 
claim all goodness in or from himself; 
but he rejoiced always, and with an ex- 
ultant faith, in the power of the blood 
of Jesus to cleanse him from all sin. 

"His own faith and experience never 
seemed to separate him from others who 
did not think or feel as he did. No one 
felt at a distance from him by reason of 
his holiness. It was a holiness that at- 
tracted, not that repelled. Men might, 
if they pleased, oppose his arguments 
with doubts and objections ; they might 
82 



Natural Graces and Holy Life. 

turn away from his burning appeals; 
but no one could question the living 
purity of the man, the practical embodi- 
ment of holiness in his life." 

Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, D. D., 
says : "Rev. Alfred Cookman's life comes 
back to me like the sound of a church- 
bell embowered in trees on a June day. 
It was nothing so much I heard him say, 
or anything I ever saw him do, that so 
impressed me as himself. He was the 
grace of God impersonated, and the more 
I saw him the more I loved him. To be 
with him was to be blessed." 

Rev. E. Wentworth, D. D., says : "His 
devotion was a living flame ; his example 
a shining light; his influence a genial 
glow; his eloquence genuine; his zeal 
the offspring of his deepest convictions 
■ — unsparing." 

Rev. James M. Lighbourn says : "Al- 
fred Cookman was the best model of a 
Methodist preacher I ever saw." 

We could fill pages with such testi- 
monials to the unexampled holiness in 
83 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

the life of Alfred Cookman. The great 
Church, of which he was a most dis- 
tinguished member in all her branches, 
has conceded this, and the Church Uni- 
versal has freely admitted that he was as 
holy as it falls to the lot of mortals to 
be in this world of sin and woe. But it 
must not be understood that, as holy as 
Alfred Cookman was, he was in any 
sense an ascetic. To him holiness was 
not of the cloister type. It did not con- 
sist in the wearing of iron girdles, or 
walking with gravel in one's shoes, or 
climbing up Pilate's staircase on one's 
naked knees. He was the farthest re- 
moved from external acts which gave 
the least coloring to the idea that he ex- 
pected salvation in any other way than 
by faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ. 
Alfred Cookman enjoyed life. He 
took a deep interest in everything about 
him. He could join in a hearty laugh 
with his friends, and be religiously merry 
with little children. Repulsive, sour 
godliness found no place- in his experi- 
84 



Natural Graces and Holy Life. 

ence. If he saw an honest soul drifting 
into extravagance and towards fanati- 
cism, or one of a moody spirit excluding 
himself from society, he was always 
ready to win him back to real life and 
its enjoyments. We insert here a letter 
to a young lady, who had shown marked 
signs of drifting in such a direction. In 
the kindest words he says : 

"Walking myself, as I humbly trust, 
in the light of full salvation, I am greatly 
delighted to know that you are a youth- 
ful pilgrim in the King's pathway of 
holiness. I believe it is your first aim 
to do your duty and enjoy your privilege. 
Living thus, you will walk in the light; 
aye, your path will shine more and more 
unto the perfect day. I gathered from 
some things your father said, that in 
your zeal you are taxing too seriously 
your powers, both of mind and 'body. 
Now, I know that you are gentle and 
teachable, willing to accept and be influ- 
enced by the advice of one who was a 
former pastor, and who feels very ten- 
derly towards every member of your dear 
family. I have lived longer than you, 
and have special opportunities for larger 
85 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman* 

observation, and hence you will believe 
me when I say it is not well to dwell ex- 
clusively on any one subject, or to keep our 
thoughts and energies turned in but one 
direction. The mind is so constituted by 
our Heavenly Father that it is healthiest 
when it passes from one object to an- 
other. While, therefore, to get good and 
to do good must be matters of primary 
importance, still, for the sake of your 
mind, and body, and piety, and useful- 
ness, there must be a frequent change, an 
occasional let-up. You must think of other 
objects. You must read the papers and 
books of biography and history. You 
must mingle with your friends, and enjoy 
innocently social intercourse. You must 
take a good deal of exercise, and enjoy 
the beauties of nature and art that you 
may come in contact with. You must 
not allow the enemy to get astride of 
your conscience, and ride you to death. 
Remember that our Heavenly Father 
means that his children shall be not only 
the best, but the happiest children in all 
the world. Get innocent joy from all 
earthly sources, and you will be better 
prepared to obtain riches and more satis- 
factory joy from himself. Think of these 
things. I do not want you to break 
down in health, for then your good 
86 



Natural Graces and Holy Life. 

would he evil spoken of. Holiness will 
have in that case to bear the burden or 
reproach. God bless you; you are his 
dear child. Accept and act upon these 
practical suggestions. 

"From your Christian brother, 

"ALFRED COOKMAN." 

What could be more tender, wise, and 
practical than these suggestions to a pro- 
foundly sincere soul, whom Satan had 
deluded with the idea that she must ex- 
clude herself from the world, in order to 
convince the world of the beauty of holi- 
ness. There are no unkind thrusts, no 
condemnation of her course, no hard 
names, but a gentle and tender persua- 
sion to hold fast her profession; only 
changing some aspects of her life for 
Christ's sake and the cause of holiness. 
If ministers were to adopt this method 
with those whom they judge to be drift- 
ing from the right way, and do it in the 
spirit of Alfred Cookman, what untold 
troubles might be avoided ! 

It was not Alfred Cookman in the pul- 
pit, on the platform, at the camp-meet- 
87 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmatu 

ings ; it was Alfred Cookman himself ; it 
was the hallowed savor of his life, the 
very atmosphere of holiness in which he 
moved, that impressed those about him, 
and made him the living example of 'all 
he did and said. 

88 



CHAPTER VII. 

ARDENT LOVE FOR AMERICAN 
BONDMEN. 

TT is a noticeable fact that children sel- 
* dom, if ever, have prejudices against 
persons of the colored race. In their 
childish sports they seem to know no 
difference. 

Alfred Cookman, when less than five 
years of age, at the time his father trav- 
eled a circuit on the Eastern Shore of 
Maryland, became greatly attached to 
slave children, as we have seen in these 
pages. He seems to have possessed a 
special affection for them. At a little 
later period, when his father was sta- 
tioned in Alexandria, Virginia, he came 
in contact with a more repulsive form of 
this unchristian institution. Here he 
came face to face with slave-pens and 
auction-blocks and broken-hearted bond- 
89 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

men. He saw parents and children be- 
hind prison bars, waiting in deepest 
anguish for the hour when they were to 
be separated, never more to meet on 
earth. These heart-rending scenes made 
a deep and lasting impression upon 
young Cookman, and induced in him 
a hatred for the system of American slav- 
ery which time could never efface. His 
subsequent residence in Baltimore, after 
his father's death, did not modify his 
deep hatred of the system. 

When the time came for him to decide 
what Conference he would join, he chose 
the Philadelphia in preference to the 
Baltimore, because the former was in a 
free State. But he found, subsequently, 
that the Philadelphia was a border Con- 
ference, and many of its members were 
more or less in sympathy with their 
brethren across the border. 

When, in 1844, the great struggle by 

which the Methodist Church was rent 

asunder took place, Mr. Cookman was 

but sixteen years of age, and residing in 

90 



Ardent Love for American Bondmen, 

Baltimore. It was not to be expected 
that he would enter into the merits of 
the conflict. But even at that early age 
he was a keen observer of what was 
transpiring in Church and State. 

While Mr. Cookman was pastor of the 
Union Church, Philadelphia, the "irre- 
pressible conflict/' as it was called, be- 
tween slavery and freedom, "was fast 
approaching a crisis." A storm was 
gathering, and it was about to burst on 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. A 
hostility the most bitter existed. Love 
had given place to hate. The North was 
arrayed against the South, and the South 
against the North, and no one was 'able 
to suggest a cure for our troubles. 

Many of the leading members of the 
Church claimed that there should be a 
rule passed by the General Conference, 
requiring slaveholding members to 
emancipate their slaves, and they be- 
lieved that by such an action the State 
could be finally reached. There was 
great diversity of opinion on the subject, 
9i 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

especially in the border Conferences, of 
which Philadelphia was one. 

Alfred Cookman was one of the men 
who believed that such a rule should be 
adopted and enforced. Measures were 
inaugurated to secure such a change by 
a proper constitutional process. Mr. 
Cookman believed it to be right, and was 
ready to give it his most hearty support. 
In his own Conference, of some three 
hundred members, all but five or six were 
against him. Perhaps no single act in 
Cookman's life gave evidence of greater 
moral heroism than this. He was young 
and popular, and was really the idol of 
the Conference. In the matter of stand- 
ing and reputation in the Conference, he 
had everything to lose, and nothing to 
gain. But principle was more to him 
than popularity. Many of his ardent 
friends and admirers were in the South, 
where he had been educated, and these 
friends were, many of them, slavehold- 
ers. To vote for this measure was vir- 
tually to declare these persons sinners, 
92 



Ardent Love for American Bondmen, 

and yet he believed that many of then, 
were lovers of Jesus, and that he should 
meet them in heaven. But Alfred Cook- 
man believed that stern duty required 
him to support the measure. And with- 
out questioning the piety or virtue of the 
people who were involved in slavehold- 
ing, he must do his duty. The favored 
opportunity had come for action, and he 
must stand firm to his principles, or 
prove a traitor to his most profound con- 
victions of duty. If any one has ever im- 
agined that Alfred Cookman was weak, 
yielding too much to the prejudices of 
others in matters where he should have 
stood firm, let them mark his action on 
this occasion. Dr. Ridgaway, referring 
to this action, says : "Cutting away from 
all social and personal entanglements, 
the man stood forth in an act of moral 
heroism seldom surpassed in the history 
of Methodism. When the resolutions 
initiating the change were pending be- 
fore the Conference, he got down upon 
his knees in the pew, and, bathed in tears, 
93 



Life Sketches of Rev, Alfred Cookman. 

poured out his soul to God for light and 
strength, and arose and voted Aye." 
That was courage worthy of the name. 
He might, as some have done in like 
circumstances, retired from the Confer- 
ence, and thus avoided the responsibility 
and saved his reputation. But Alfred 
Cookman was not of that make-up. The 
sole question with him was, What is 
duty? That question settled, nothing 
could stand between him and its per- 
formance. This is the stuff of which 
martyrs are made. An honest slave- 
holder would have said the act was 
worthy of the noble man he was. 

The General Conference met in Buf- 
falo, May i, i860. Mr. Cookman was 
anxious to be present. With several 
members of his own Conference, he at- 
tended. They were full of interest to 
see how the battle went. Writing to his 
wife from the seat of the Conference, he 
said : "Great excitement obtains among 
all concerned in General Conference pro- 
ceedings. The anti-slavery column 
94 



Ardent Love for American Bondmen. 

stands strong and united. May God rule 
and overrule !" "To-day the slavery bat- 
tle commenced. The excitement is in- 
tense. Comb led off, followed by Moody 
and Norvel Wilson. The Baltimoreans 
are here in large numbers. They are in- 
tensely excited. The General Rule will 
not be changed ; but there will be a seces- 
sion on the border. I judge we are in 
perilous times; but the Lord reigneth. 
If I were not conscientious before God, 
the pressure of friends might move me 
from my position ; but while I would not 
grieve them, I must and will cling to 
truth and right." 

The conflict in the General Confer- 
ence, and his deep interest in it, did not 
ruffle his spirit. He says : "My spiritual 
enjoyment in Buffalo has been unusual. 
Love fills my heart; love for God and 
for all around. O, I feel during every 
succeeding hour that I am at peace with 
Heaven, and prepared, if it should be the 
Master's will, to quit these stormy 
scenes, and rest with angels and the 
95 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

glorified !" This was the spirit in which 
Mr. Cookman engaged in the moral con- 
flicts of his times. 

In 1862, when the war-cloud was thick 
and threatening, Mr. Cookman was on 
a visit to his native town, Lancaster, Pa. 
While there he addressed the citizens of 
the town in a patriotic speech of thrilling 
interest. Among other things, he said: 
"In the language of old John Adams, 
'Sink or swim, live or die, survive or 
perish, I give my heart and my hand' to 
these Union measures. It is my living 
sentiment, and, with the blessing of God, 
it will be my dying sentiment, 'Liberty 
and the Union now, liberty and Union 
forever.' " 

The entire address was replete with 
the noblest patriotic sentiments. He 
urged that the war should be prosecuted 
until every rebel voice was hushed, and 
the "Stars and Stripes" waved over a 
united country. 

The New York Conference, of which 
he was a member, met in New York 
96 



Ardent Love for American Bondmen, 

City, and excitement was at a high pitch. 
Two events had transpired which had 
contributed to that excitement. A mem- 
ber of the Conference, Rev. Pelatiah 
Ward, had enlisted in the service, and 
had been killed. The President of the 
United States, Abraham Lincoln, had 
issued the "Proclamation of Emancipa- 
tion/' the justice of which was questioned 
by some, and the policy of the act was 
questioned by others. Mr. Cookman 
prepared the war report, the reading of 
which produced a profound sensation in 
the body. It was a time of great excite- 
ment. The report had the true patriotic 
ring. It contained ten resolutions, cov- 
ering the entire field. The fourth was a 
strong arraignment of certain parties in 
and out of the Church. It says : 

"That the conduct of those who, in- 
fluenced by political affinities or South- 
ern sympathies, and under a pretext of 
discriminating between the Administra- 
tion and the Government, throw them- 
selves in the path of almost every warlike 
7 97 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman, 

measure, is in our view covert treason, 
which has the malignity without the 
manliness of those who arrayed them- 
selves in open hostilities to our liberties, 
and is deserving of our sternest denun- 
ciation and our most determined oppo- 
sition/' The fifth resolution says : "That 
slavery is an evil, incompatible in its 
spirit and practice with the principles of 
Christianity, with republican institutions, 
with the peace and prosperity of our 
country, and with the traditions, doc- 
trines, and Discipline of our Church; 
and that our long and anxious inquiry, 
'What shall be done for its extirpation?' 
has been signally answered by Divine 
Providence, which has given to Abraham 
Lincoln, President of the United States, 
the power and the disposition to issue a 
Proclamation guaranteeing the boon of 
freedom to millions of Southern bond- 
men/' 

No one doubted as to where Alfred 
Cookman's heart palpitated at this time. 
98 



Ardent Love for American Bondmen. 

The report was adopted, with but slight 
opposition. 

It was during Mr. Cookman's pastor- 
ate at Trinity Methodist Episcopal 
Church, New York, that he had his army 
experience. He was ready to do as well 
as talk. Under the direction of the 
Christian Commission he went to the 
front, and for the usual period of such 
se.rvice he wrought valiantly in the Army 
of the Potomac. He shunned no danger, 
avoided no responsibility. His chief ob- 

^ ject seemed to be to win men to God. 

J Many souls were genuinely converted. 
Reference is made to his work in the 
army in another part of this volume, to 
which we refer the reader. His letters 
from the army, addressed to his wife and 
others, breathe the same spirit of holy 
ardor and quenchless love of souls. 

At the close of the war, Mr. Cookman 

would settle the "National Problem of 

Reconstruction," by giving the Freed- 

men the "spelling-book, the Bible, equal 

99 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman* 

rights before the law, and the elective 
franchise as their weapons of defense, 
and then leave all the rest to God." 
Nothing could have been more in har- 
mony with justice and right. The slave 
was free. That was all. He had noth- 
ing, and needed everything. Many of 
the advocates of freedom were in doubt 
as to the best thing to do. Alfred Cook- 
man did not share in these doubts. He 
believed that the act of emancipation was 
an act inspired by God, and it was now 
for us to do our duty, and all would be 
right. An extract or two from a letter, 
written to his sister Mary, will set forth 
his views on this subject fully, and with 
these we will conclude this chapter : 

Mr. Cookman says : "Last night I 
made a speech in the largest colored 
church in Philadelphia; two bishops, 
a book agent, a missionary, an editor, 
etc. (all black), on the platform. Justice 
to the Freedman and justice to the 
traitor, was my political creed an- 
nounced ; duty to their brethren in the 
ioo 



Ardent Love for American Bondmen, 

South, the exhortation urged. We had a 
glorious time. I thought of our honored 
father; how he would have reveled and 
kindled and flamed on such an occasion, 
or under such circumstances. 

"This suggests your inquiry respect- 
ing colonization. My impression is that 
colonization belongs to some future 
Providential development. God is using 
the African race just now to teach us 
lessons of justice, and can not dispense 
with the lesson-book. When we are dis- 
posed to do justly in every particular, 
then I rather expect Providence will 
open some gold-mines or oil-wells, or 
something else, on the African coast, or 
in some other locality, where black peo- 
ple can best live, and so we shall work 
out the problem of colonization. At the 
present time they are not only important 
for testing our integrity, but also for cul- 
tivating our soil. I think that coloniza- 
tion must be left to Providence and the 
colored people themselves. We can not 
force them away. It would be unwise, 

IOI 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman, 

unkind, and unchristian. Let us live 
for the present, faithfully discharging the 
duties of the present hour, which is to 
educate and elevate the people whose un- 
requited labors, multiplied wrongs, tedi- 
ous bondage, and deep degradation give 
them a special claim upon us. Give them 
the spelling-book, the Bible, equal rights 
before the law, the elective franchise as 
their weapons of defense, and then leave 
all the rest to God. In such a case I 
would implicitly trust Providence; One 
who is himself infinitely just, holy, and 
good." 

We doubt if this vexed question, 
"What shall be done with the black 
man?" has ever been more clearly an- 
swered in harmony with what are the 
dictates of Christianity than by Alfred 
Cookman. 

Cookman Institute, Jacksonville, Flor- 
ida, established for the education of 
Freedmen, was named in honor of Alfred 
Cookman, the lifelong friend and de- 
fender of the colored race. 

I02 



CHAPTER VIII. 

ALFRED COOKMAN, A MODEL FAMILY 

MAN. 

JVA R. COOKMAN was no mystic, 
seeking to attenuate and exhaust 
the body in order to develop the inner 
spiritual life. He was no ascetic, devot- 
ing himself to solitary contemplation; 
no hermit or recluse, in cave or monas- 
tery, shut out from all earthly attractions, 
practicing extreme mortification, that he 
might enjoy greater union with God, 
and build himself up in holiness. 

There have been persons of extraor- 
dinary piety, who have denied themselves 
the pleasures of the married life, believ- 
ing it detrimental to the highest form of 
communion with God. The Rev. John 
Fletcher for many years was deterred 
from taking this step, influenced by such 
considerations. He finally saw his error, 
103 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

and concluded that if Enoch, at the head 
of a family, was fit for translation, it was 
not a subject to be lightly esteemed, and 
he subsequently married. 

Alfred Cookman, a man of extraor- 
dinary devotion to God, seems never 
to have been influenced by such unscrip- 
tural vagaries. He entered upon this 
God-ordained relation, not without a 
profound sense of its most sacred char- 
acter, and of the obligations it involved. 
He possessed all the natural instincts of 
human nature, controlled by super- 
abounding grace, making him, in all 
respects, a model family man. His holi- 
ness shone as brightly in the family as 
in the pulpit. 

Alfred Cookman was united in mar- 
riage, March 6, 185 1, to Miss Annie E. 
Bruner, daughter of Mr. Abraham 
Bruner, of Columbia, Pennsylvania. He 
had spent some months previous to his 
marriage, on a voyage to England, to 
visit his aged grandfather. He seems 
to have been delighted with his visit, 
104 



Alfred Cookman, a Model Family Man. 

as his correspondence to his friends 
abundantly shows. 

In a letter addressed to Miss Bruner, 
previous to their marriage, he says : "In 
the matter of marriage, above all others, 
I have been desirous that God should 
rule and overrule ; indeed, I have incor- 
porated this in my private addresses to 
the Throne of Grace. In looking back 
upon the past, I think I am prepared to 
say, 'He hath done all things well/ and 
in all my associations with you can most 
distinctly perceive the hand of an over- 
ruling Providence. I desire to be un- 
feignedly grateful to my Heavenly 
Father for this and all other manifesta- 
tions of his tender care and watchful 
love, and in the strength of grace would 
solemnly promise him to be more de- 
voted to his glorious cause in all future 
time." 

There can be no doubt that the union 

between these two young hearts was as 

tender, loving, and unchanging as ever 

fell to the lot of souls to enjoy.' The 

105 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

wife was a helpmeet to her husband. 
For twenty-one years they walked to- 
gether in love, and then the parting 
came. On the completion of the first 
ten years of their married life, Alfred 
makes this record : "On the 6th of March, 
1851, I linked my fortunes with those 
of my dearly-beloved wife, and now, 
on the tenth anniversary of our blessed 
union, I would record my gratitude to 
Almighty God, whose kind providence 
gave and hath jpreserved to me one so 
well deserving the name of 'helpmeet/ 
Our life, made up of fidelity and love, 
has been like a deepening and widen- 
ing stream, upon which we have floated 
together in delightful harmony. Our 
home, with its five little buds of beauty 
and promise, has been an Eden-spot, 
where our Infinite Father, who dwelt 
with the first pair in Paradise, has 
vouchsafed us his constant presence. O,. 
how much of pure love and true joy 
have been compressed within these ten 
years of my life! Accept, my precious 
106 



Alfred Cookman, a Model Family Man* 

Annie, this humble but sincere testi- 
mony to your thoughtful care, constant 
kindness, unsullied goodness, untiring 
fidelity, and uninterrupted, yea, increas- 
ing devotion. 

"We have lived and loved together 
thus long, and now, on this anniversary, 
let us, in token of our gratitude to God 
and our affection for one another, build 
a pillar of witness. It shall be com- 
posed of these ten stones, one for each 
year of our married life: Love, truth, 
purity, kindness, fidelity, sincerity, con- 
stancy, thankfulness, holiness, Christ the 
Corner-stone. This is the altar upon 
which we will renew our vows, to love, 
comfort, honor, and keep one another 
so long as we both shall live." 

Mr. Cookman's letters to his wife 
breathe the spirit of purest affection, and 
his references to his children are of gen- 
uine fatherly tenderness. Writing to his 
wife, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 
he says : "In this world of insincere 
profession and mere external manifesta- 
107 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

tion, it is delightful to know there is 
one warm, true heart in which you may 
confidently repose. The genuineness of 
your love I have never questioned for 
an instant, and, next to the Pearl of 
Great Price, I prize it as the most pre- 
cious of my heart's jewels. Be sure it 
is not foolishly expended. I am glad 
that our dear boys continue so well. 
They are two beautiful, blessed children, 
for whom we ought to be profoundly 
thankful to the Giver of every good and 
perfect gift." Writing again from the 
same place, he says : "Here I am at my 
study table again, attending to corre- 
spondence and other matters. O that 
you were at my side ! O that I could 
look around and see the faces of my 
beautiful boys. All is desolation," 
he says, "in your absence." He seems 
never to be so happy as when wife and 
children were all about him, and he en- 
tering into the innocent enjoyments of 
his family life. 

From Pittsburg, writing to his absent 
108 



Alfred Cookman, a Model Family Man. 

wife, he says : "I wonder how you all 
are this evening. I think of you almost 
constantly, and am happiest when I can 
bask in the refreshing radiance of your 
sunny faces." 

These are expressions of domestic 
affection of rare excellence. They show 
that he was a most tender and devoted 
husband and father. 

Writing to his mother, he says, "The 
children exhibit every day some new 
charm, some fresh attraction," showing 
that he was deeply interested in all 
the special and attractive developments 
of his children. There was nothing re- 
pulsive in his manner, but a sweet, 
tender, gentle spirit, which won the un- 
dying love of wife ahd little ones. The 
children were unrestrained in their inno- 
cent joy in his presence, in all of which 
he was ready to join them, making 
himself one with them. In a letter to his 
wife from Johnstown, where he was at- 
tending the first session of the Pittsburg 
Conference, to which he had just been 
109 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

transferred, he says : "I have thought 
a good deal about you since my depart- 
ure. My wife and sons are the dearest 
idols of my affection, and I am never 
so happy as when I have you by my 
side." 

We hear him again, in a similar 
strain, writing from Pittsburg, saying: 
"I thank you for your letter, breathing 
so much of true devotion. I assure you 
that it comes to me in desolation like 
an angel of light. I need not say that 
your enthusiastic affection finds the very 
warmest reciprocation in my heart. To 
say that you are the dearest object of 
my heart and life is to tell the truth 
but feebly. How I thank God that I 
was ever permitted to gaze upon your 
sunny face and claim you as my own! 
God bless you, precious Annie, and 
spare your valuable life many, many 
years. Have I not proven a faithful cor- 
respondent? Well, I deserve little 
credit, and it is really no ordinary happi- 
ness for me to sit down and commune 
no 



Alfred Cookman, a Model Family Man. 

through this unsatisfactory medium with 
her who is all the world to me — espe- 
cially when I know my letters are adding 
to your pleasure. Kiss my boys for 
poor Pa. Tell them that I intend to 
bring up their carriage out of the cellar, 
and have it all ready for their occupancy 
and use." 

Again, he w T rites to his wife, w T ho is 
seeking rest and health at Columbia, 
her native place : "I am managing to 
exist in your absence. It is not living, 
and yet I bear it because I think that 
you are happier in the East than you 
could be, perhaps, in Pittsburg. You 
know that your comfort is my rule and 
constant object." 

He writes, January 16, 1858: "God 
has given me my first daughter. O how 
multiplied are Heaven's mercies !" 

Writing to his wife, from Philadelphia, 
who is at her home in Columbia, he 
says : "The children are both well. Just 
now they came into my study and placed 
on my table their portemonnaies, saying, 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman, 

'Pa, this is your birthday present from 
us.' Dear fellows, they did it of their 
own accord, and in perfect good faith. 
I put their present in my pocket, and 
thanked them very sincerely. George 
asks a great many questions about his 
sister Annie. When I speak of Ma's 
return, their little eyes dance with de- 
light." 

On his removal to New York, his 
family went to their old family home 
until their new home was in readiness. 
Alfred, writing to his wife, says, "I do 
not know how I can endure absence 
from my loved ones so long; but I live 
a day at a time, and try to keep the 
future out of my thoughts." "Last 
night," he says, "I walked the streets 
of New York with Jesus. Do not be 
surprised. This was a precious real- 
ization, and my heart burned within me 
as I communed with my kind and 
sympathizing Redeemer. It was one of 
the evenings of my life." Though he 

112 



Alfred Cookman t a Model Family Man* 

is surrounded by many friends, and a 
vast population, in the great city, "Nev- 
ertheless, I suffer," he says, "a sense of 
isolation. My precious family are ab- 
sent, and none can serve as a substi- 
tute. Were it not for the presence of 
my blessed Savior, which has been a de- 
lightful and continued realization, I 
could scarcely have borne the depriva- 
tion. I have been suffering. My 
Heavenly Father has been specially 
gracious to me, within the past week or 
two, accompanying me in my walks, vis- 
iting me in my night seasons, strength- 
ening and blessing me in the society of 
friends, and keeping my mind in perfect 
peace." 

Mr. Cookman's letters to his children 
breathe a spirit of fatherly tenderness 
and familiarity which is seldom found 
among men. There is nothing stern 
or commanding, nothing to repel, but 
everything to inspire love and deepest 
sympathy. The following was written 
8 113 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

from New York to his three children, 
who were in Columbia, Pennsylvania : 

"It is Saturday night, when Pa, you 
know, usually studies his sermons. 
Bruner is asleep, Will is asleep, little 
Beck Evans is asleep, Ma is getting 
ready for bed, and I am writing a letter 
to my dear George and precious Frank, 
and sweet little Sister Puss. Well, how 
have you been getting along this week? 
I hope you have been very good, mak- 
ing as little noise as possible; obeying 
all that Aunt B. or Grandma has said; 
remembering your prayers every night 
and morning ; asking your blessing, and 
behaving well at the table, and acting 
like little New York gentlemen. On 
Tuesday I watched you waving your 
hats, and handkerchiefs, and flags, until 
I could see you no longer. Then I sat 
down until I reached Lancaster. When 
I got home, little Prince danced for joy, 
he was so glad to see me. Then I started 
for Nyack, where I found Ma and Brune 
114 



Alfred Cookman, a Model Family Man* 

and Will and little Baby Sister. They 
were as much delighted as Prince. 
They asked me a hundred questions 
about George and Frank and Sister. I 
told Ma that you were magnificent boys ; 
that Frank did not cry; that sister was 
growing to be a large, lovely girl. We 
talk of you every day, and want the 
weeks to go by right fast until we shall 
all sit down together in Columbia. We 
send kisses. George must kiss Frank 
and Sister for me; Frank must kiss 
George and Sis for Ma; Sis must kiss 
George and Frank for Brune. Do not 
forget. Good-night!" This is an ex- 
ample of his loving letters to his absent 
children. Could good children fail to 
love with deepest affection such a father ? 
And it must be remarked that when 
with them at home there was the same 
loving intercourse. The children were 
never happier than when the father was 
with them, and the father never more 
delighted than when they pressed around 
115 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

him in the home circle. He closes an- 
other letter, from New York: "Now, I 
must give you a good-night kiss — one 
for George, one for Frank, and one for 
dear little Sister Puss. Ma says, 'I must 
send ever so many for her, and Bruner 
for him, and Willie for him.' " 

Mr. Cookman's letters, written to his 
wife, while engaged in the Christian 
Commission, during the war, breathe the 
same loving spirit and tender care for 
wife and children, and a firm trust in 
God that all would work for good to 
the bondman and the nation. 

These utterances of Alfred Cookman 
must convince all that he was an affec- 
tionate husband, and tender, loving 
father, and that these strong domestic 
ties were dominated by supreme love 
to God. 

The Present State of the Family. 

Seven children survived the father, 
four sons and three daughters. Two of 
116 



Alfred Cookman, a Model Family Man. 

the number have since joined the father 
in the better land. Helen, a lovely- 
daughter of eleven years, was the first 
to depart. The second was Alfred, a 
babe of only fourteen months at his 
father's death. A graduate of the Wes- 
leyan University and of the Medical 
College of Philadelphia, he had grown 
to manhood, and had commenced the 
practice of medicine in Philadelphia, 
with every prospect of success. He was 
a Christian young man, his mother's 
hope, and died within a few weeks of 
his contemplated wedding. 

There are (year 1900) five children 
still living, three sons and two daughters. 
The eldest, George Grimston, is engaged 
in the practice of law in Philadelphia; 
two are in the Methodist ministry — 
Frank Simpson, a member of the New- 
ark Conference, and William Wilber- 
force, a member of the Philadelphia 
Conference. Mrs. Cookman resides with 
her daughter Annie (Mrs. Schureman 
117 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

Halsted), at 5530 Morris Street, German- 
town, Pa. ; Mary (Mrs. Sigourney Pay 
Clark), resides in Elizabeth, New Jer- 
sey. Miss Mary Cookman, sister of 
Alfred Cookman, is the only survivor 
of the family of Rev. George G. and 
Mary Cookman. 

118 



CHAPTER IX. 

A LOVING LEADER OF THE NATIONAL 
HOLINESS MOVEMENT. 

HP HE year 1867 w ^l always be memo- 
1 rable in the history of that movement 
known as the holiness revival in Amer- 
ica, under the auspices of the "National 
Association for the Promotion of Holi- 
ness." As a nation, we had just emerged 
from the most gigantic rebellion the 
world had ever witnessed, and the 
Churches, both North and South, had 
been greatly demoralized and sadly 
weakened spiritually. Many a good 
conscience had been wrecked by seiz- 
ing upon favorable opportunities to 
amass wealth by unjustifiable methods. 
A few were found who still wept between 
the porch and the altar. 

Camp-meetings, which had been a 
great power in early Methodism, had 
119 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

so far fallen into disrepute that the 
Church papers were earnestly discuss- 
ing the propriety of wholly abandoning 
them. 

The General Conference of 1864 made 
an earnest but mournful appeal to the 
Church, as a "haughty and rebellious 
people/' to properly deplore our sins, 
"and let God, our Heavenly Father, be- 
hold us in tears and contrition before 
his throne, pleading day and night, 
through the Redeemer, for the outpour- 
ing of the Holy Ghost upon the Church, 
the nation, and the world." "This," 
they say, "is our only hope." There was 
not only a manifest declension in spir- 
ituality, but, as is common at such times, 
there was a growing opposition to the 
subject of entire sanctification. This 
was manifest in the pulpit, the pew, and 
at our eamp-meetings, until the ques- 
tion of holding camp-meetings, where 
the subject of holiness should have the 
right of way, began to be agitated, by 
ministers and laymen. It was finally 



Leader of the Holiness Movement. 

determined by a few brethren to call a 
meeting of such ministers and laymen 
as were favorable to holding a camp- 
meeting, the special object of which 
should be the promotion of the work 
of entire sanctification. Alfred Cookman 
was among the foremost men in this 
movement. But for his connection with 
this work, as one of its prime movers 
and supporters, it is doubtful if his name 
w r ould have been as widely known. It 
was this which contributed largely to 
give him a national reputation, and ex- 
tend his influence world-wide. He 
signed the call for the meeting to be 
held in Philadelphia, at 1018 Arch 
Street, June 15th, to arrange for the 
first National Camp-meeting. He pre- 
pared the call for the first meeting, 
which was accepted by the brethren, and 
ordered to be printed. 

The meeting in Philadelphia brought 
together a company of strong, noble 
men. The president was no less a per- 
son than the venerable Dr. George C. M. 



Life Sketches of Rev# Alfred Cookman. 

Roberts, of Baltimore, whose prayer at 
the opening lifted all hearts to God. In 
a few chosen words he stated the ob- 
ject of the meeting, and expressed his 
great joy that he had lived to see that 
day, and for the bright prospects be- 
fore them. The venerable Anthony 
Atwood presented the following resolu- 
tion : 

Resolved, That we hold a camp-meeting 
for the special promotion of Christian purity. 

This elicited no discussion, as all were 
agreed. The place selected for holding 
the meeting was Vineland, New Jersey ; 
the time, July 17, 1867. The "Call" for 
the meeting, prepared and read by Alfred 
Cookman, was as follows : 

"Cam*" 

"A general camp-meeting of the 
friends of holiness, to be held at Vine- 
land, Cumberland County, N. J., will 
commence Wednesday, July 17th, and 
close o<n Friday, 26th instant. 

"We affectionately invite all, irrespect- 
ive of denominational ties, interested in 



Leader of the Holiness Movement. 

the subject of the higher Christian life, 
to come together and spend a week in 
God's great temple of nature. While 
we shall not cease to labor for the con- 
viction and conversion of sinners, the 
special object of this meeting will be to 
offer continued and united prayer for the 
revival of the work of holiness in the 
Churches ; to secure increased wisdom, 
that we may be able to give a reason of 
the hope that is within us with meekness 
and fear; to strengthen the hands of 
those who feel themselves comparatively 
isolated in their profession of holiness ; 
to help any who would enter into this 
rest of faith and love ; to realize together 
a Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Ghost, 
— and all with a view to increased useful- 
ness in the Churches of which we are 
members. 

"Come, brothers and sisters of the va- 
rious denominations, and let us in this 
forest meeting furnish an illustration of 
evangelical union, and make common 
supplication for the descent of the Spirit 
upon ourselves, the Church, the Nation, 
and the world/' 

The call for such a meeting could not 
have been more specific and compre- 
hensive, and in all respects more cath- 
123 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

olic and Christlike. It was such a call 
as could but find a ready response in 
every Christian heart. 

Mr. Cookman felt deeply the impor- 
tance of such a movement, for, writing 
to a friend, he said : " You have doubt- 
less been advised of our Vineland camp- 
meeting enterprise. It is rather a bold 
movement for the friends of holiness ; 
but I believe it is in the order of God, 
and will be accompanied and followed 
by blessed results. Associated with the 
originators of this enterprise, I can 
bear a most emphatic testimony to the 
purity of their motives, and the thought- 
ful care and earnest supplication to God 
that characterized their deliberations. 
Indeed, the day we spent in Philadelphia, 
making arrangements, was one of the 
best days of my life." 

The meeting commenced July 17th. 
The morning was clear and bright. 
Multitudes from the different denomi- 
nations found their way to the camp, to 
hear the gospel of holiness. Alfred 
124 



Leader of the Holiness Movement* 

Cookman and his family were early in 
their places. Rev. John S. Inskip was 
the chosen leader. The services were 
opened with singing, 

"There is a fountain filled with blood." 

This has been the "battle-hymn" of 
the holiness movement for the last 
thirty-two years. Mr. Inskip led in 
prayer, and the heavens seemed respon- 
sive to his petition. Revs. Andrew 
Longacre and B. M. Adams assisted fur- 
ther in the opening services. Several 
addresses were delivered, and then an- 
other season of prayer, in which Messrs. 
Adams, Coleman, and Alfred Caokman 
joined. Few present will forget Mr. 
Cookman's prayer. He seemed inspired. 
The opening sermon was preached by 
Rev. J. W. Horne, and the closing ser- 
mon by Rev. B. W. Gorham. 

Mr. Cookman's sermon on the occa- 
sion was from i Thess. iv, 3 : "This is 
the will of God, even your sanctifica- 
tion." A special unction attended its 
125 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

delivery. It was clear and forceful, and 
made a deep and strong impression. He 
was careful to set forth the definite ex- 
perience, in the interests of which the 
meeting was held. The results of the 
meeting far exceeded the most sanguine 
expectations of its ardent friends. Many 
were sanctified wholly, and large num- 
bers were converted. Among the latter 
was a wayward son of Bishop Simpson. 
The bishop and his family, including his 
son Charles, were in attendance during 
the meeting. The bishop had been 
absent from the ground during the Sab- 
bath, officiating at the opening of a 
Methodist Church. As he returned to 
the camp-meeting, Monday morning, he 
was informed that he was needed at the 
Kensington tent. As he entered the tent, 
he saw his son, of many prayers, upon 
his knees earnestly seeking pardon. He 
made his way through a company of 
sympathizing friends, knelt beside his 
broken-hearted boy, and with tearful 
eyes and uplifted hands prayed as only 
126 



Leader of the Holiness Movement 

a Christian father can pray for a peni- 
tent son. The whole company were 
melted and moved with deepest sym- 
pathy. Charles was converted. A few 
months later that son lay sick unto 
death. A little time before he departed, 
turning to his weeping mother, he said, 
"Mother, I shall thank God to all eter- 
nity for the Vineland camp-meeting." 
It was to this death-scene the bishop 
referred at Alfred Cookman's funeral, 
when he said, "He stood by the dying 
bed of one I loved, and his words and 
counsels were those of a Christian min- 
ister." 

Of Alfred Cookman's relation to the 
National Camp-meeting Association, 
Dr. H. B. Ridgaway says, "Whatever 
may be said of the merits of the issue 
involved in the National Camp-meeting 
Association, it is certain that Mr. Cook- 
man was fully committed to its support, 
and was in strict accord with its pur- 
pose." So strongly did he press the 
necessity of this work, that brethren, 
127 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman* 

more or less conservative, knowing his 
constitutional cautiousness, were them- 
selves greatly inspired to action by his 
great boldness. 

At a meeting of those who signed the 
call for the Vineland meeting, for the 
purpose of considering, among other 
things, the question of holding another 
meeting in 1868, Mr. Cookman earnestly 
supported the measure. And through 
his special efforts Manheim, instead of 
Round Lake, was selected as the place 
of meeting, because of his interest in the 
locality. In that memorable meeting 
the "National Camp-meeting Associa- 
tion for the Promotion of Holiness" was 
formed. The brethren knelt, Brother 
Cookman prayed. Those who were 
present speak of that wonderful prayer. 
He prayed as if a great battle was near, 
and that victory could only be secured 
through the leadership of the "Captain 
of our Salvation," the Lord of Hosts. 
The Association was formed, and all the 
business of the meeting transacted 
128 



Leader of the Holiness Movement* 

while the brethren were yet upon their 
knees. 

Manheim. 

/he National Camp-meeting at Man- 
heim, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 
commenced July 14, 1868. Many thought 
k not the most favorable locality for 
such a meeting, but through the urgent 
efforts of Alfred Cookman, who claimed 
to be familiar with the country, the 
brethren consented. It is true, the 
weather was oppressively hot, the water 
was very scarce and miserably poor, and 
the dust was almost blinding, but the 
people seemed to care for none of these 
things. At least twelve thousand thirsty 
souls drank in the Word of Life, which 
fell from lips touched with the fires of 
Pentecost. Not less than six hundred 
tents sheltered people from nearly every 
State in the Union ; not less than 
three hundred ministers, including that 
prince among men, Bishop Simpson. 
The Sabbath was a great day. The love- 
9 129 . 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman 

feast was a season never to be forgotten. 
It was in that memorable love-feast that 
Alfred Cookman gave that never-to-be- 
forgotten testimony: "Alfred Cookman, 
washed in the blood of the Lamb." It 
was given without any ostentatious dis- 
play, and all who knew him felt that it 
was true to fact. Bishop Simpson 
preached in the forenoon, from Romans 
viii, 14: "For as many as are led by 
the Spirit of God, they are the sons of 
God." Many hearts were greatly moved 
under that wonderful sermon. 

Rev. J. S. Inskip preached in the after- 
noon in his usual effective manner. 

Alfred Cookman was the preacher for 
the evening. He was in his prime, and 
the people were expectant. A great vic- 
tory was anticipated. He had prepared 
a sermon for the occasion on a certain 
text. But, strange to say, text and ser- 
mon had effectually vanished, while 
many thousands were anxiously waiting. 
Nothing moved or disconcerted, he com- 
menced calmly to talk to the people, 
130 



Leader of the Holiness Movement* 

trusting God to give him the message. 
He proceeded to relate his personal ex- 
perience, and as he did so, the Spirit 
of God came upon the assembly with 
unusual power. From the beginning 
he had the rapt attention of the people. 
He became uncommonly impressive and 
earnest. The living mass before him 
seemed to be in his hands as clay in 
the hands of the potter, to be melted 
and molded as God would have them. 
He dwelt upon the work of the Holy 
Spirit, and the work of entire sanctifi- 
cation, describing the manner in which 
he had been led into the experience. 
Every heart seemed nigh to breaking 
for the longing it had for "the more 
excellent way." The people were pro- 
foundly moved. Cries and groans were 
heard on every hand. "Nothing short 
of a Pentecost/' says one who was 
present, "seemed suited to the occasion." 
If ever mortal was inspired, Alfred Cook- 
man seemed to be. At the close of his 
address, he prayed, and who that heard 
131 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

that prayer can ever forget it! One 
who was present describes it thus : "For 
awhile he pleaded upon his knees. Then 
he arose, and, standing upon his feet, 
grew more and more vehement. His 
hands were lifted. His voice in mighty 
tones swelled out upon the night air. 
Cries and groans of oppressed souls 
commingling. Standing thus, with 
hands upraised, his face toward the hill 
from whence cometh help, his faith 
grasped the promises, and he was con- 
queror, and hallelujahs, like the sound 
of many waters, rolled through the forest 
temple/' (Days of Power.) 

How many souls were fully saved that 
night will not be known till the books 
are opened. 

Mr. Cookman threw his soul into all 
the services of the meeting, and was 
pressing the people into the enjoyment 
of holiness. The Methodist says : "None 
who were privileged to be present will 
ever forget the Sunday evening when 
Rev. Alfred Cookman led the congre- 
132 



Leader of the Holiness Movement. 

gation to God, and pressed upon them, 
with his masterly and persuasive elo- 
quence, the question of true spiritual 
power as connected with personal holi- 
ness, and in the most fervent prayer led 
the congregation to the cross. Men fell 
under the mighty power of God in all 
parts of the ground. This w^as only 
equaled by the wonderful Pentecostal 
season on Monday night." 

The Monday night meeting at Man- 
heim was an event in itself, unlike any- 
thing that ever occurred at a national 
meeting. Rev, John Thompson had 
preached. Rev. J. S. Inskip had ex- 
horted in an unusual manner. Rev. 
George W. Woodruff knelt to pray, 
when suddenly, as a flash of lightning 
from a clear sky, there fell upon the peo- 
ple a power, and with it came sponta- 
neous bursts of joy and groans and cries 
for mercy. For one hour the scene beg- 
gared all description. The people were 
crying for mercy and pardon on the one 
hand, and for purity o>n the other. 
i33 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmaiu 

Scores were converted, and greater num- 
bers were sanctified wholly. Men were 
there from other lands, and returned to 
tell of the Monday night at Manheim 
as the most remarkable display of God's 
power that they had ever witnessed. Its 
sound went out into all the earth. We 
were there and know whereof we speak ; 
but we can give but a meager account 
of the scene. Rev. John Thompson, a 
little before he died, said, referring to 
Manheim : "I shall never forget, either 
in time or in eternity, especially I shall 
always remember that wonderful Mon- 
day night at Manheim. That was really 
the night of my life." 

Round I^akk. 

We next find Alfred Cookman at 
Round Lake, New York, July 6, 1869, 
with zeal unabated, intent on pressing 
the subject of holiness with which his 
soul seemed inflamed. This was a meet- 
ing far exceeding in numbers the Man- 
heim meeting. The location was in its 
i34 



Leader of the Holiness Movement* 

favor; it had been widely advertised, if, 
indeed, it needed advertising. From 
Manheim a sound had gone out into 
nearly all the earth, and people came as 
on the day of Pentecost, not perhaps 
from "every nation under heaven/' but 
representatives were there from different 
nationalities, to see for themselves what 
the wonderful movement meant. Mr. 
Cookman preached on the occasion with 
an unction we will not attempt to de- 
scribe, from Ephesians v, 18, "Be filled 
with the Spirit." Every heart seemed to 
be intensely longing for this Divine full- 
ness ; and many, under that sermon, 
formed the resolution never to rest until 
they were in possession of that God- 
promised gift ; and many received it then 
and there, by faith in Him who had 
promised. 

It was at the Sunday morning love- 
feast at Round Lake that he gave his 
Manheim testimony, "Alfred Cookman, 
washed in the blood of the Lamb." He 
moved among the people as a saint of 
i35 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

God. All his testimonies, and exhorta- 
tions, and personal conversations, re- 
vealed the fact that he was "dwelling in 
the secret chamber of the Most High," 
and, like Enoch, was walking with God. 
Of that camp-meeting a minister from 
the city of Philadelphia said : "I expect 
to thank God for it through everlasting 
ages. The effect was Pentecostal." But 
he says, "Never have I seen such uni- 
form decorum." Bishop Simpson, who 
was present, speaks of "being highly 
pleased with its management." Alfred 
Cookman had charge of the Ministers' 
Meeting on the Sabbath, and in this was 
greatly blessed. God gave him wonder- 
ful access to the hearts of his ministerial 
brethren. His fraternal spirit, entire 
freedom from an authoritative bearing, 
and his loving words, won all hearts. As 
he would say, "Come, brothers, take my 
hand, and let us kneel together," it was 
done so sweetly and with such a sincere, 
humble spirit, that none could resist. 
136 



Leader of the Holiness Movement. 

Up to 1870 there had been but one 
National camp-meeting held each year; 
but so urgent was the demand from all 
parts of the land, that it was resolved 
to hold three meetings in 1870: at Ham- 
ilton, Massachusetts ; Milton Grove, 
Oakington, Maryland ; and Des Plaines, 
Illinois. 

Hamii/ton. 

The Hamilton Camp-meeting opened 
June 2 1 st. The association was largely 
represented. It was too early in the 
season - for the latitude of New Eng- 
land, and the weather was exceedingly 
unpropitious. But the meeting was at- 
tended by a large number of ministers 
from all parts of New England and else- 
where. The large attendance of min- 
isters seemed a special feature of the 
meeting. Mr. Cookman was there in 
the very fullness of the Spirit. It was his 
first visit to New England ; but his fame 
as a holy man and able preacher had 
i37 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman, 

gone before him. He was present in all 
the services, and no man exerted a 
greater influence than Alfred Cookman. 
On Sunday evening, instead of preach- 
ing a sermon, as at Manheim, he gave 
an account of his personal experience. 
This produced a profound impression 
upon the ministry and membership of 
the Church. It was a rainy evening, and 
the crowd was not present. On the fol- 
lowing Tuesday morning he delivered a 
memorable sermon from I Thess. v, 23, 
"The very God of peace sanctify you 
wholly.'' It was a clear, forceful setting 
forth of the great doctrine of perfect love, 
and the obligations to seek it now. The 
effect of the sermon was witnessed in 
the hundreds who thronged the altar and 
filled all the available space around as 
seekers of heart purity, and great num- 
bers found that for which they sought. 
Mr. Cookman's prayers during the 
meeting were attended with a power that 
moved the entire encampment. Writing 
138 



Leader of the Holiness Movement* 

to his wife from Hamilton of the Sab- 
bath, he says : "It was a wonderful Sab- 
bath, certainly the best of any we have 
spent in the woods as a National Com- 
mittee, and the friends expect a sermon 
from me to-morrow. This meeting, in 
interest and power, is a great success. 
The brethren feel in its impressions and 
holy* influence it is equal, or ahead of 

Round Lake." 

139 



CHAPTER X. 

THE NATIONAL HOLINESS MOVEMENT. 
CONTINUED. 

Oakington. 

/^V UR next meeting was held at Oak- 
^ ington, Maryland. Here Alfred 
Cookman was at home. He had lived 
and labored in the Churches in this vicin- 
ity, and knew the people. But he en- 
tered into the work with his accustomed 
earnestness. The atmosphere was torrid, 
the shade poor, the water bad, making 
it a most unfavorable location for a 
camp-meeting. But no one would have 
judged by the spirit of the people that 
they felt these inconveniences. On the 
second day Mr. Cookman had charge 
of the eight o'clock morning meeting. 
He called the attention of the people to 
three questions : "Does our desire need 
to be intensified? Does not our conse- 
140 



The National Holiness Movement. 

cration need to be more perfect ? Do we 
not look more to ourselves than to the 
blessed Christ ?" These points were dis- 
cussed in a most impressive manner. 
Silent prayer, for which the National As- 
sociation in those days was noted, fol- 
lowed. Then Brother Cookman led in 
vocal prayer. Many souls were led into 
the freedom of perfect love. After an im- 
pressive sermon by Dr. William Butler, 
Mr. Cookman followed with a pointed 
exhortation and prayer-meeting, which 
resulted in the salvation of many. 

At the Sabbath love-feast he said : "As 
at Manheim two years ago, so here at 
Oakington, Alfred Cookman, washed in 
the blood of the Lamb." 

On Sabbath evening he led the public 
service in an earnest exhortation, lead- 
ing the people most successfully into 
fuller and richer fellowship with God. 
No such day for excessive heat had ever 
been experienced at any National camp- 
meeting, and yet few days ever witnessed 
greater displays of God's power in the 
141 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

conversion and purification of souls. At 
six o'clock Monday evening Alfred 
Cookman had charge of the Ministers' 
Meeting in the tabernacle. At the open- 
ing of the service he intimated his sense 
of unworthiness to lead his ministerial 
brethren. Rev. John Thompson said : 
"Suppose we say that we want you to 
lead us, whither would you lead us?" 
"I would lead you," he responded, "di- 
rectly to. the cross." At this reply the 
.brethren, coming from all parts of the 
tent, gathered around the leader, and 
that great company of ministers knelt 
together in a solemn, earnest prayer of 
consecration. Their hearts were melted 
while God revealed to them his special 
presence. Many testified to having then 
and there received the assurance of full 
salvation. On Wednesday afternoon, 
the ninth day of the meeting, Mr. Cook- 
man preached from Romans xiii, 14, 
"Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." 
His theme was, "Sanctified character the 
highest investiture of the soul" The 
142 



The National Holiness Movement* 

Divine unction was upon him, and the 
congregation attentively listened, were 
deeply impressed, and generally yielded 
to the truth, and crowded to the altar 
until there seemed no more space for 
them. The glory of God rested upon 
the camp. It was estimated that not less 
than seven hundred ministers were pres- 
ent at Oakington, and of the people there 
was no numbering them. Our space 
does not allow us to describe the many 
soul-stirring scenes which occurred 
there. 

Dks Pi<ainks. 

The next meeting for the season was 
held at Des Plaines, Illinois, commenc- 
ing August 9, 1870. The National As- 
sociation was well represented. Many 
representative men of the West were 
present. Dr. Reid, of the Northwestern 
Christian Advocate; Drs. Bannister, Ray- 
mond, and Kidder, of Evanston ; Profes- 
sor Jaques, of Bloomington, Illinois; 
Rev. Hooper Crews — all of whom 
i43 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

preached on the occasion. There were, 
also, Dr. (now Bishop) Fowler, Dr. 
W. C. Willing, and others, from all parts 
of the Northwest. These leading men in 
Western Methodism strictly observed 
the movement, and gave their unquali- 
fied approval of all they heard and saw. 
Aside from Rev. J. S. Inskip, Alfred 
Cookman attracted most attention. He 
had charge of the Preachers' Meeting, 
on the second day of the services. Dr. 
J. M. Reid and others led in prayer, and 
Brother Cookman addressed the breth- 
ren in his usually impressive manner, 
and many were helped in making a com- 
plete surrender to Christ. On Friday he 
preached a memorable sermon from 
Ephesians v, 23, "The very God of peace 
sanctify you wholly." He dwelt upon 
that entire consecration which precedes 
entire sanctification, showing in what re- 
spects it differed from that so-called con- 
secration made at conversion. The peo- 
ple were profoundly impressed. We sat 
upon the stand, and carefully noted the 
144 



The National Holiness Movement* 

impression made upon the congregation. 
Dr. Fowler was near us on the stand. 
No sooner was the sermon concluded, 
and an invitation given to come to the 
altar, than he, for the first time, made a 
rush, not going down the steps, but 
plunged down over the front of the plat- 
form, raised some three feet above the 
ground, and threw himself on his knees 
in the straw. The place was at once 
crowded with seeking souls. It seemed 
as if the whole crowd were anxious to 
find a kneeling spot in the inclosure. 
It would be utterly impossible for us to 
describe the scene. There was no great 
outcry, nothing unduly extravagant in 
physical demonstration, but a deep, all- 
pervading sense of the presence of God. 
The following day Brother Cookman 
led the early morning meeting in the 
tabernacle. The Sabbath was a great 
day. The sun shone brightly. From 
five o'clock in the morning till ten at 
night the battle raged. Mr. Inskip 
preached in the forenoon; Dr. Reid 
10 145 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

preached in the afternoon; and Alfred 
Cookman related his personal experience 
in the evening. While he, in an earnest, 
humble spirit told how God led him into 
the fullness of love, a solemn stillness 
reigned in the vast audience, the Holy 
Spirit made deep and lasting impressions 
upon the souls of the people. When an 
invitation was given for seekers to come 
to the altar, hundreds of believers and 
unbelievers rushed forward, filling all 
the space around the stand. A skeptic 
arose and said, "I want the true religion, 
the religion of Jesus." It was estimated 
that not less than one hundred were con- 
verted on. that Sabbath. Twenty-five 
children and seven adults were converted 
in the children's meeting. No such tri- 
umphs of grace had ever been witnessed 
in the Northwest. 

Tuesday was a marked day at Des 
Plaines. In the forenoon a meeting was 
held in which the people were urged to 
seek the Lord as a present Savior from 
sin. The altar was cleared, and an in- 
146 



The National Holiness Movement. 

vitation extended to all classes to come. 
There was a great rush. After the altar 
had been filled, twenty-five rows of seats 
were filled with seekers. It was a most 
wonderful scene. For a time silent 
prayer was offered. Then Brother 
Cookman broke forth in one of his most 
wonderful prayers. The power of God 
was not only on him, but on the people. 
For a time he remained upon his knees ; 
then, in his deep earnestness, he rose to 
his feet, and, as at Manheim, he seemed 
to take hold of God through his prom- 
ises. We never witnessed such a scene. 
Great numbers in that company found 
the blessing of pardon and purity, and 
went forth clothed and in their right 
mind. Dr. Raymond said : "I know if 
there is anything true and good and 
right for man in this life, it is here in this 
meeting; and if I did not want it more 
than anything else, I should not respect 
myself. If there is anything like heaven 
on earth, it is under this canvas." 

No language can adequately describe 
i47 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

the last night at Des Plaines, when more 
than five hundred souls were prostrate 
before God, pleading for personal salva- 
tion. There were ait least one thousand 
who professed to have experienced the 
blessing of perfect love, and not less than 
two hundred converted. 

Dr. Reid, editor of the Northwestern, 
vojced the general sentiment of the peo- 
ple when he said : "The committee re- 
pressed with sedulous care all fanaticism, 
all wild shriekings and contortions. Si- 
lence was a wonderful power with them, 
the subdued song or the unuttered 
prayer, the vast assembly waiting on 
God, just waiting. O, we shall never 
forget it! Not a word said, but every 
heart open heavenward, and God pour- 
ing his blessing in. The meeting was 
a blessing, and the committee won all 
hearts. The mercy-tide is higher on 
these lake shores for their coming, and 
with the Churches we will bless God 
for ever and ever. Amen." 

Of the statement that the Association 
148 



The National Holiness Movement 

did not seek the conversion of sinners, 
Dr. Reid says : "Notwithstanding that 
holiness was the prominent object of all 
discourses and prayers, efforts for the 
conversion of sinners were not neglected. 
We think that not less than one hundred 
adults and more than that number of 
children professed to receive a witness 
of sins forgiven and adoption into God's 
family. Unless this National camp- 
meeting differs from others, there has 
been some mistake in the reports on this 
subject. The results, in bringing souls 
to Christ, estimating no other good that 
was done, mark the meeting as a signal 
success. It has evidently marked an era 
in the religious experience of Northwest- 
ern Methodism, and thus far there is in 
it great promise for good and little prom- 
ise of evil." 

A minister, writing to the Home Jour- 
nal, says : "The whole Northwest is 
ablaze with salvation. Holiness is the 
theme in every direction. The ministers 
have gone home covered with sanctify- 
149 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

ing power, and whole Churches are at 
the altar seeking holiness. Praise God 
for Des Plaines camp-meeting !" 

Alfred Cookman left his stamp of holi- 
ness upon # the Northwest. They were 
anxious that he should come among 
them. Writing to his wife from Des 
Plaines, he says : "In the evening, as 
usual, Brother Alfred had to head the 
column. God helped me as much, per- 
haps, as ever in my life, and I trust great 
good was done. The whole ground 
seemed to be a great altar, sinners and 
unbelievers down before God. We think 
it the best Sabbath of any of our National 
camp-meetings. Glory to the Lamb !" 
Of Monday night he says : "God is pres- 
ent to-night in great power. The West 
answers to the East, and shouts holiness 
unto the Lord. The people are very 
kind. Some of them think they must 
have me in the. Northwest," etc. We 
must turn from these scenes. 

In 1 87 1, in consequence of a laborious 
evangelist trip to the Pacific Coast, in- 
150 



The National Holiness Movement. 

eluding Salt Lake City, it was thought 
best to hold but two National camp- 
meetings ; one at Round Lake, and one 
at Urbana, Ohio. We may say here that 
Brother Cookman expressed to the 
writer, on the Sabbath before his death, 
that it was one of the deepest regrets of 
his life that he could not accompany the 
brethren on their tour to the Pacific 
Coaist. "I would have regarded it," he 
said, "as the event of a lifetime/' 

The camp-meeting at Round Lake 
commenced July 4th. This was our sec- 
ond meeting at Round Lake. Alfred 
Cookman was there in the fullness of the 
Spirit. His sermon on the occasion was 
from the text, "I press toward the mark," 
etc. As we look back upon the scene, 
he seems to have been impressed that 
he was doing his last work. Every fac- 
ulty of his being seemed laid under con- 
tribution to press the people into the full- 
ness of God's great salvation. The peo- 
ple were greatly moved and signally 
blessed. 

151 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

A writer, speaking of the Sabbath 
service, says : "Rev. Alfred Cookman 
preached in the afternoon to one of the 
largest and most attentive audiences that 
a camp-meeting ever saw." 

A correspondent of the Troy Daily 
Times says: "At two P. M., Rev. A. 
Cookman, of the Newark Conference, 
preached from Philippians iii, 14, 'I 
press toward the mark of the prize of my 
high calling/ The speaker claimed that 
Paul was a man of one idea, but that 
idea was complete in itself. If he made 
tents, that was but a part of his religion. 
His preaching was tributary to his idea 
of holy living. He defined the mark of 
the prize as the Bible standard of Chris- 
tian excellence, and spoke of the evil of 
a wrong standard. He spoke beautifully 
of the prize itself in the final glorifica- 
tion of soul and body in the likeness of 
Christ. It is hard to do justice to a dis- 
course which, with the happy manner of 
its delivery, made a deep impression." 

Mr. Cookman's testimony at the love- 
152 



The National Holiness Movement. 

feast is described by one present as fol- 
lows : "When you were singing of the 
cross a few minutes since, I thought that 
I had drawn a circle around the cross, 
and Jesus had lifted me up from the foot 
of the cross, and given me a home in his 
heart. I am dwelling in the supreme 
center of bliss.^ 

Although very greatly exhausted by 
the labors of the meeting, at .its close, 
with his sister Mary and a few friends, 
he made a visit to Saratoga Springs. 
He seemed extremely happy, running 
over with joy. On his return to Round 
Lake, he took his family to Ocean Grove, 
hoping that a brief stay at the seaside 
would soon restore him to health. His 
health had been perfect, and he knew 
not what it was to rest. The second 
National camp-meeting had begun at 
Urbana, Ohio, and Alfred scented the 
battle from afar, and his holy soul was 
stirred for the conflict. His wife, know-, 
ing his weakness, pleaded with him not 
to go. With tears in her eyes, she said, 
i53 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman* 

"O Alfred, you will not go to Urbana?" 
"My dear/' he replied, "it is God's will." 
Knowing his weakness at Round Lake, 
none of the brethren expected him at 
Urbana; but we were delighted to see 
him. 

During the Urbana meeting Alfred 
preached twice, and with a pathos and 
effectiveness which was never excelled, 
even by him. "Thousands of deathless 
spirits," says Rev. L. R. Dunn, "will 
never have the impression produced by 
those sermons effaced." He preached 
on Friday from "Be ye holy." The peo- 
ple gave profound attention to his words. 
The second sermon, from "Be filled with 
the Spirit," was delivered the following 
Tuesday morning to a congregation of 
not less than three thousand. Every eye 
seemed fastened upon the preacher. It 
was his last National camp-meeting ser- 
mon, and had he known it was his last, 
he could not have preached more effect- 
ively. His spirit was profoundly moved, 
and he poured out his soul almost unto 
i54 



The National Holiness Movement* 

death for the salvation of the people. 
The noon hour came, and the bell an- 
nounced the dinner ready ; but not a per- 
son left his place. All seemed as if 
chained to their seats until the preacher 
had concluded his discourse, and the 
people dismissed in an orderly manner. 
It was really the great effort of his life — 
great in the searching truths uttered, 
great in the spiritual power with which 
the truth was delivered, great in the 
overwhelming effect produced upon the 
audience during its delivery, and great 
in the deep, lasting impression made 
upon that vast company. A correspond- 
ent to a Cincinnati paper gives a de- 
scription of the sermon, in which he 
says : "His clear, ringing voice pene- 
trated to the remotest bounds of the 
great square, and under the influence of 
his eloquence men stood motionless as 
statues. The hour of twelve came, and 
the gongs and dinner-bells around the 
inclosure began an interruptive clangor. 
But no person in that congregation could 
i55 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman, 

have been tempted away by an epicurean 
feast. In that moment there was food 
for the moral and religious nature being 
dispensed with all the liberality of elo- 
quence, and the wants of physical na- 
ture were unheeded in their appeals. An 
imperfect report would utterly mar the 
beauty of the speaker's utterances, and 
a perfect report would fail to convey any 
idea of the glowing eloquence of his 
style, and the telling effect of his pa- 
thetic appeals to men and women to 'be 
filled with the Holy Spirit/ Your types 
could print the mere words ; but no pen- 
power that I know of can clothe them 
with the garb of oratory in which they 
trooped forth from the speaker's lips, to 
take by storm the stubborn citadel of 
men's hearts and minds." 

Writing to his wife from Urbana, he 
says : "Our meeting progresses with con- 
stantly-increasing interest. Every serv- 
ice is a signal victory. This afternoon I 
preached to a large and attentive con- 
156 



The National Holiness Movement. 

gregation from the text, 'Be ye holy.' 
God graciously strengthened and helped 
me, and my friends say I never had a 
better time. Since the sermon I am a 
little prostrated, and my legs stiffen up ; 
but I am getting on most gloriously. 
Sincerely, I have not been as well for five 
weeks. To-morrow will be the Sabbath. 
I conduct the love-feast in the morning." 
. . . "My own soul is being enriched. 
I want to bring home a double portion 
of the Spirit, and so be furnished for a 
blessed and successful .campaign this 
autumn. . . . And now I must close 
my note. The forces are gathering for 
a mighty battle. O for salvation in 
floods ! I will not get back home before 
Saturday night. And now, good-bye. 
The Lord bless and watch over you. 
Kisses for children, love for my friends, 
and believe me, your devoted husband. " 
It has been truly said, the people "little 
thought that he was talking not only 
from his heart, but was talking away his 
i57 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman, 

heart. The last and best of Alfred Cook- 
man was condensing itself into sentences 
to live and grow in men's minds forever." 

At the close of the camp-meeting, Al- 
fred Cookman returned to Ocean Grove, 
not to rest, for it seemed he could not 
rest. The "zeal of God's house was eat- 
ing him up." He seemed to be con- 
sumed with desire to proclaim the won- 
derful love of the Holy Spirit. He spent 
the Sabbath at Ocean Grove, and 
preached from his favorite text, "Be 
filled with the Spirit." After the Sab- 
bath, instead of resting, he is away to 
Martha's Vineyard, and there he 
preaches on "Be filled with the Spirit." 
Like Bishop Asbury, he seems to have 
felt that he was "divinely commissioned 
to preach sanctification in every ser- 
mon." 

On his return from Martha's Vine- 
yard he spent two weeks at Ocean Grove, 
and then with his family returned to his 
home to resume his pastoral work. 

October 18th, Alfred Cookman at- 
158 



The National Holiness Movement, 

tended the annual meeting of the Asso- 
ciation, which met in New York, less 
than one month before his decease. He 
was in feeble health; but his soul was 
burning with desire to spread holiness. 
He urged that at least five National 
camp-meetings should be held the com- 
ing year, pledging himself to be at four 
of them. His zeal knew no abatement. 
But here his labors with the National 
Association ended. One month later he 
had reached the eternal camp-meeting 
grounds on the banks of the mystic Jor- 
dan, from which he could observe the 
battle between sin and holiness as it was 
being successfully waged by his asso- 
ciates, many of whom have since joined 
him in holy triumph. 
i59 



CHAPTER XL 

THE SUCCESSFUL PASTOR AND PER- 
SUASIVE PREACHER. 

AS a faithful pastor and effective 
** preacher/Alfred Cookman was emi- 
nently successful. The pulpit seemed to 
be his throne, and the pastorate his di- 
vinely-appointed vineyard. He knew 
how to preach the gospel, which was 
adapted to save sinners and build up be- 
lievers in the faith of Christ. He was 
always able to "feed the flock of Christ." 
He never failed to hold his congrega- 
tions and add largely to their number. 
The people came to his ministry like 
hungry sheep to a good shepherd to be 
fed, and when they asked "a fish, he did 
not give them a serpent/' and send them 
empty away. Though not a profound 
scholar himself, the most cultured heard 
him with profit, and went from his min- 
160 



Successful Pastor and Persuasive Preacher* 

istry rejoicing, as from a feast of fat 
things. 

As a pastor, the people became 
strongly attached to him, and at times 
well-nigh idolized him. In seasons of 
bereavement among his people, his 
words were always full of sympathy, and 
he was always able to administer genu- 
ine Christian consolation. The very 
tones of his voice in the prayers he of- 
fered on such occasions, drew him closer 
and closer to the hearts of his people. 

Mr. Cookman joined the Philadelphia 
Conference in 1848. He had served the 
Church at Attleboro, and also on Dela- 
ware City Circuit, as a "supply," the two 
previous years. But on joining the Con- 
ference he was appointed to the German- 
town Circuit, a suburb of Philadelphia. 

In 1849 he was appointed to Kensing- 
ton and Port Richmond, as a junior 
preacher under Rev. David Dailey. 
This, it will be remembered, was the first 
appointment which his honored father 
received on joining the Philadelphia 
11 161 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

Conference. The very church in which 
his father so eloquently proclaimed the 
gospel of Jesus now resounded with the 
voice of his equally devoted son. 

So greatly were his services appreci- 
ated that he was returned a second year, 
with the privilege of being allowed to 
make a visit to England. His venerable 
grandfather had urged his coming, and 
Alfred was anxious to comply with his 
grandfather's wishes. It is not surpris- 
ing, however, that his good mother 
should have hesitated to risk her dearest 
earthly treasure to that treacherous 
ocean which had a few years before en- 
gulfed husband and father. She finally 
consented, and Alfred sailed from New 
York in the latter part of July, in the' 
steamer Europia. It is enough to say 
that this visit was eminently satisfactory 
to Alfred and his English relatives, and 
was ever remembered by him as a bright 
spot in his history. "Stepney Lodge," 
Hull, the residence of his grandfather, 
was a place of great delight to our young 
162 



Successful Pastor and Persuasive Preacher. 

friend. The days he spent in London 
were crowded with sight-seeing. He 
visited the Wesleyan Conference, and 
was honored with a seat on the platform ; 
visited the British Museum, saw the 
royal family, etc. Having completed his 
visit, he bade adieu to his many relatives 
and friends, turned his face homeward, 
and in due time was in labors abundant 
on his charge. 

Alfred Cookman was a Conference 
preacher for twenty-two years. During 
that time he was pastor of twelve 
Churches in five different Annual Con- 
ferences. The following is a list of his 
appointments after he became a member 
of the Conference : 1848, Germantown 
and Chestnut Hill; 1849-50, Kensington 
and Port Chester; 1851-2, West Chester 
Station; 1852-3, Locust Street, Harris- 
burg; 1854-5, Christ Church, Pittsburg; 
1857-8, Green Street, Philadelphia; 
1859-60, Union Church, Philadelphia; 
1861-2, Central Church, New York; 
1863-4, Trinity, West 34th Street, New 
163 * 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

York; 1865-8, Spring Garden Street, 
Philadelphia ; 1868-70, Grace Church, 
Wilmington, Delaware; 1871, Central 
Church, Newark, N. J. 

It will be observed that Alfred was 
stationed five times in Philadelphia, 
twice in New York City, once in Harris- 
burg, once in Pittsburg, once in Wil- 
mington, Del., and finally in Central 
Church, Newark, N. J. These Churches 
included at the time some of the best 
Churches in Methodism. 

Mr. Cookman's labors on the German- 
town Circuit were marked, it is said, by 
"fidelity to duty, and all his exercises 
were indications of the future successes 
which were destined to crown his min- 
istry." 

A lady, writing of the pleasant "mem- 
ories" of Alfred Cookman, as she knew 
him on the Delaware City Circuit, which 
he traveled the year before he became a 
member of the Conference, says : "To 
all classes of this population young 
Cookman came as a messenger of life. 
164 



Successful Pastor and Persuasive Preacher. 

His young heart burned with love of 
souls. He went from his closet to the 
pulpit, and thus panoplied with power, it 
is no marvel that the multitudes which 
from Sabbath to Sabbath hung upon the 
earnest pleadings of his eloquent lips 
for their salvation, regarded him as a 
royal ambassador from the Court of the 
Most High." Mrs. L. A. Battershall 
(the same writer) declares that, notwith- 
standing his rich endowment by nature 
with a genial spirit and an ease of grace 
and manner fitting him to shine as the 
center of the social circle, yet she never 
knew him "betrayed into levity unbe- 
coming a minister of the gospel of 
Christ." 

In the spring of 1851, on his return 
from England, he was married, and at 
the next Conference, a few weeks later, 
was appointed to the charge of West 
Chester Station, about thirty miles from 
Philadelphia. It was an old Quaker 
town, with a Methodist Church limited 
in numbers and wealth, but greatly en- 
165 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookmatu 

couraged with the prospect of having the 
eloquent and popular Cookman and his 
youthful bride. Everything was done 
to make them comfortable and happy. 
His fame had preceded him, and from his 
first Sabbath the people were attracted to 
his public ministrations. His church 
was crowded, not only by Methodists 
and those who were in sympathy with 
them, but even the elite of the community 
were attracted to his church, and were 
delighted and profited. The Quakers 
were greatly charmed by the spirit which 
pervaded his sermons "and the godly 
simplicity of his manners." He was the 
leading spiritual teacher in the commu- 
nity. As the days and weeks passed, his 
influence grew more and more, until his 
ascendency over the hearts and minds 
of the people exceeded in a short time 
that of any former minister in many 
years. 

Mr. Cookman's success in this charge 
may be inferred from these facts : He 
found the church embarrassed with a 
166 



Successful Pastor and Persuasive Preacher* 

debt of three thousand dollars, of ten 
years' standing, and much in, need of re- 
pairs. The membership was small, only 
one hundred and fifty-two, and they with 
little means. He reported at the close 
of his first year one hundred and seventy 
members and seventy-five probationers. 
At the close of the second year he re- 
ported two hundred and twenty-five 
members and twenty-six probationers. In 
the meantime he had paid off the entire 
.debt, and put the church in excellent 
condition. "The church/' it is said, "was 
always full when Brother Cookman 
preached. " "He was popular in other 
Churches as in his own. Everybody 
loved him, and spoke of him as the 
lovely, eloquent Cookman." This same 
writer says : "It is fair to state that 
Brother Cookman gave an impulse to 
Methodism in West Chester such as it 
had never had, and we still enjoy the 
benefits thereof. It is difficult to decide 
which was the stronger attraction for 
the people, his unassuming piety and 
167 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

sweet, loving spirit, or his thrilling elo- 
quence that so enchained the multi- 
tudes." 

In 1853, Mr. Cookman was stationed 
in Harrisburg, the capital of the State. 
He at once made himself felt in his new 
field. Locust Street received him with 
enthusiastic delight, and very soon his 
eloquent pulpit efforts attracted general 
attention. When the Legislature as- 
sembled, his church being conveniently 
located, the members and visitors of that 
body were attracted to it. He was 
elected chaplain of the House of Dele- 
gates, was selected to offer prayer at the 
inauguration of the governor, and 
seemed to hold a position far in advance 
of what might have been expected of a 
youth of twenty-five years. 

Mr. Cookman remained in Harrisburg 
two years. Under his ministry the so- 
ciety prospered. The Church had gained 
in membership in the two years ninety 
members and seventy probationers, while 
its financial and social standing had in- 
168 



Successful Pastor and Persuasive Preacher. 

creased proportionately. Alfred Cook- 
man's preaching at this time is repre- 
sented as "replete with sublime thoughts 
and beautiful illustrations/' It is said 
that "one secret of Mr. Cookman's popu- 
larity and success as a preacher was that 
his sermons were all good, and that what- 
ever emergency called him forth, he had 
a peculiar faculty of happily adapting his 
discourse to the occasion." "We like his 
sermons/' said one, "on account of their 
freshness, originality, and the thorough- 
ness and the earnestness with which 
they are delivered. For a young man 
he is a speaker of superior ability/' 

It was about this time that Alfred 
Cookman entered the field as a lecturer, 
and received many commendations from 
the public press. "The Bible" was his 
favorite subject, especially in his earlier 
ministry. He delivered a lecture at Har- 
risburg on this subject, his theme being, 
"The Bible is the basis, the bond, the 
bulwark, and the boast of our free insti- 
tutions." He was invited to deliver the 
169 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

annual sermon before "The Society of 
Evangelical Inquiry of Dickinson Col- 
lege." The sermon was not only well 
received; but it is said to have estab- 
lished the preacher's high reputation 
among the students." 

About this time Mr. Cookman deliv- 
ered a lecture in Philadelphia before the 
Young Men's Christian Association, on 
"Concentrated Energy as a Prerequisite 
to Success and Distinction in any Pur- 
suit in Life." He is reported as possess- 
ing a "style clear and perspicuous, and 
at the same time brilliant and ornate. 
His voice, which is perfectly under his 
control, is remarkably distinct, musical, 
and sonorous, and his manner of delivery 
is highly oratorical and effective. Mr. 
Cookman, although quite a young man, 
has already won for himself an enviable 
reputation." On his leaving Harrisburg, 
one of the papers said : "He was popular 
with all classes and all denominations, 
and his departure is universally re- 
gretted." 

170 



Successful Pastor and Persuasive Preacher. 

In 1855, Cookman was transferred to 
the Pittsburg Conference, and stationed 
at Christ Church, Pittsburg, Pa. A new 
Methodist church,of Gothic architecture, 
had been erected at Pittsburg; it was at 
that time the costliest edifice in Amer- 
ican Methodism, and Alfred Cookman, 
a youth of twenty-seven years, was se- 
lected as its pastor. It was a heavy re- 
sponsibility to assume, and he was not 
unmindful of what it involved. But it 
was soon evident to all that no more ap- 
propriate choice could have been made. 
Though young in years, he was not 
wanting in experience. He proved him- 
self to be a man of courage as well as 
caution. 

As a preacher, it was true that his 
power to attract and hold the people in 
a great city was to be tested. But his 
ability was at once recognized, and his 
church, though having the disadvantage 
of being a "pewed" church, was speed- 
ily filled. He was in all respects a suc- 
cess, even in the forming period of this 
171 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmaiu 

important Church. Though a transfer, 
and that to the leading Church in the 
Conference, Mr. Cookman was received 
cordially by the preachers of the Con- 
ference from the first. They gave him 
their love and confidence. 

Mr. Cookman's success at Christ 
Church may be inferred from the fact 
that at the close of the first year he re- 
ported to the Conference an increase 
from ninety to one hundred and thirty- 
; two members, and twenty-six proba- 
tioners. He had collected for missions 
$738, and $300 for the Bible cause, ex- 
ceeding by far all former contributions. 

At the ensuing Conference Mr. Cook- 
man was selected to make a missionary 
address, in connection with Dr. J. P. 
Durbin. It is said that these two men 
"electrified the audience." One, in de- 
scribing the meeting, says they "were 
, two of the most powerful speakers to 
which it has ever been my privilege to 
listen." The same writer says : "Cook- 
man is a gifted son of eloquence, and 
172 



Successful Pastor and Persuasive Preacher, 

nature has given him a most exuberant 
fancy. His speeches abound in the most 
gorgeous imagery, and in this respect he 
is said to resemble his distinguished 
father." "Mr. Cookman's speech might 
be said to abound in lightning flashes of 
genius, which Dr. Durbin followed in 
one continued thunder-roll of ponderous 
thought." 

The same writer, speaking of Mr. 
Cookman's Sabbath sermon in the Pres- 
byterian Church, says : "We would as 
soon think of daguerreotyping the storm, 
or with a feeble voice of imitating the 
roar of thunder, as to undertake to con- 
vey to our readers the impression made 
by Cookman's sermon. Certain we are 
that of all who heard it, no one will for- 
get it." 

There is no doubt that Mr. Cook- 
man's youthful appearance contributed 
to the enthusiasm with which his efforts 
were received ; but back of all this there 
must have been real worth. He seemed 
to do everything for the Lord Jesus, 
i73 



Life Sketches of Rev» Alfred Cookman. 

and to do it with all his strength. He 
seems to have kept his all upon God's 
altar, ready for sacrifice or service. At 
the close of his first sermon in Christ 
Church, from the text, Galatians vi, 14, 
"God forbid that I should glory, save 
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," 
a brother, a member of the Church, was 
asked, on coming out, what he thought 
of the sermon. "Ah," said he, "there 
is no German silver about that — it has 
the true ring of the genuine metal. " 
"His whole work in Pittsburg," says one, 
"was admirable in every way. . . . 
He was in every sense a Methodist, but 
he was not a narrow denominationalist ; 
and, above all, he had nothing in his 
heart to keep him from rejoicing in the 
success of another's work." "The more 
I knew him," says one, "the more I 
loved him. He walked with God." 

On Mr. Cookman's leaving Pittsburg, 

a daily city paper speaks of his work 

thus : "Rev. Alfred Cookman has been 

with us two years, yet in that short time 

i74 



Successful Pastor and Persuasive Preacher. 

he has indelibly impressed us with his 
sincerity as a Christian, his worth as a 
gentleman, and his ability as a pulpit 
orator. To his value as a Christian, 
his life and zeal in the cause he assumes 
testifies. Of his worth as a gentleman, 
the many and warm attachments formed 
during his short residence with us are 
the assurances. Of his ability as an 
orator, the large and discriminating 
audiences which have attended him are 
the very best evidences." He left the 
city with his family at midnight. But 
even at this unseasonable hour the 
friends were so much attached to him, 
and the feeling so intense at parting 
with him, that they formed a procession, 
and accompanied him and his family 
to the station, where they bade them an 
affectionate adieu as they took the 
train for Philadelphia. 

In 1857, Cookman was transferred 
back to the Philadelphia Conference, at 
the request of the Conference, and sta- 
tioned at Green Street, Philadelphia, 
i75 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

Green Street Church was new, the seats 
were free, and, located in the midst of 
a dense population, it was well adapted 
to a preacher of the popular talent that 
Mr. Cookman had the reputation of pos- 
sessing, and really did possess. Dr. 
H. B. Ridgaway, speaking of Mr. Cook- 
man's two years' pastorate at Green 
Street Church, says, "It is doubtful if 
Philadelphia Methodism has known for 
its whole history a pastoral term of two 
years more signally fraught with proofs 
of Divine favor and the stable results 
of evangelical ministrations than those 
of our friend at Green Street." He 
further declares that the "scenes under 
his preaching — the perpetual blaze of 
revival, the marked cases of conversion 
and sanctification — were more like the 
occurrences of primitive Methodism, and 
showed conclusively that the ancient 
glory had not departed from the sons of 
the fathers." 

Let it be remembered that at the close 
of his second year he reported no less 
176 



Successful Pastor and Persuasive Preacher, 

than seven hundred members, and one 
hundred and fourteen probationers — two 
hundred and thirty-five net gain. It is 
true that this increase took place in 1857 
and 1858, during the great awakening. 
But Alfred Cookman was the man to 
take advantage of this spirit of almost 
universal awakening, and press sinners 
to Christ. It will be remembered that 
it was while at Green Street he re- 
ceived a most satisfactory renewal of 
the blessing of entire sanctification, 
which for years he had failed to enjoy. 
He says, ten years later, "Eternal praises 
to my long-suffering Lord, ten years 
have elapsed since, as pastor of Green 
Street Church, in the city of Philadel- 
phia, I again carefully and fully dedi- 
cated my all to God ; the consecration 
included, of course, the doubtful indul- 
gence" (tobacco.) Dr. Ridgaway says: 
"The tobacco test was for himself alone ; 
the use of tobacco was in his way. He 
did not pretend to raise it as a test 
for any one else/' We can not believe 
12 177 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

that Alfred Cookman would care to have 
the matter put in this form. It is true 
that he did not denounce those who in- 
dulged in the use of tobacco as sinners 
above all men because they did such 
things. But he did. not believe that an 
enlightened Christian could practice 
smoking or chewing tobacco and enjoy 
the blessing of entire sanctification. 
From what we know of Mr. Cookman's 
teachings on this subject, we are sure 
we state his exact views. Let no one 
say that "if so holy a man as Alfred 
Cookman did not object to the use of 
tobacco, then I may use it." He did 
object to the use of tobacco, and his 
whole spiritual nature revolted at the 
idea of a man claiming to be pure in 
heart, and still held by the power of this 
habit. 

A new light had fallen upon him, and 
a new power possessed him, and from 
this time until he "swept through the 
gates, washed in the blood of the Lamb," 
"heart purity" was his theme. His ablest 
178 



Successful Pastor and Persuasive Preacher. 

sermons were from this time on this 
subject. "His whole being was per- 
meated with its unction ; at home or 
abroad, in the pulpit or the social cir- 
cle, in the study or by the seashore, at 
the altar of prayer or by the sick-bed, 
the instinct of his soul, the atmosphere 
of his life was holiness unto the Lord." 

It was during his ministry at Green 
Street that his brother George, often 
referred to in these pages, was converted, 
and became an honored, worthy member 
of the Church. He was a man of deep 
piety and an earnest worker. His 
career was short, but he lived and died 
well. Nothing in Alfred's ministry gave 
him greater joy than the salvation of 
his most dearly-loved brother George. 
An intelligent member of the Green 
Street Church was asked by a member 
of the Conference what was the secret 
of Cookman's success. His answer was, 
"His evident desire to do the people 
good." 

.The next appointment of Alfred 
179 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

Cookman was the Union Church, on 
Fourth Street, Philadelphia. This was 
in 1859. It was the oldest Methodist 
Church in the city, except St. George. 
It was located in the business portion 
of the city. But notwithstanding all 
these disadvantages, it was even then 
regarded as a strong Church. There 
were many influential families connected 
with the Church; but they came from 
a distance, preferring to remain with 
the old rather than connect themselves 
with new organizations. The popularity 
of Mr. Cookman was soon felt in the 
increase of the congregations. It is 
said by one of the leading members of 
the Church, "Mr. Cookman was re- 
ceived at Union with open arms and 
open hearts." This was the Church- 
home of his honored mother, who now 
received the Word of God with glad- 
ness from lips she had taught to lisp 
the name of Jesus. Here, too, was his 
bosom friend, Rev. Andrew Longaere, 
now laid aside by feeble health. Here, 
180 



Successful Pastor and Persuasive Preacher* 

also, was Mrs. John Keen, in whose 
home a meeting for "holiness," which 
had been established by her mother, was 
the rallying point for the lovers of holi- 
ness. It seemed almost an Eden to 
Alfred, who had so recently regained his 
lost blessing, and gloried in its posses- 
sion. Some idea of his power as a 
preacher at this time may be gathered 
from a report of a sermon preached at 
Penn's Grove Camp-meeting, New Jer- 
sey, by his friend, Andrew Longacre. 
His text was, "Thy will be done." Mr. 
Longacre says : "The collection pre- 
ceded the sermon, and it left the congre- 
gation a good deal unsettled. But at 
the first sound of his voice all was 
hushed into attention, and the whole 
vast throng was bathed in tears. Peo- 
ple wept aloud, and preachers crowded 
the stand and the passers-by on the 
edge of the circle. Near me was seated 
a traveling preacher of the Hicksite 
Friends. He had been restless at first, 
but gradually seemed subdued by the 
181 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman, 

power of the preacher, until at the con- 
clusion he stood up and cried with a 
loud voice, as if yielding to the constrain- 
ing influence of the Spirit, "We have 
heard the gospel preached in demonstra- 
tion of the Spirit and power/' We went 
to the tables right after the service, but 
for many minutes those at the table 
could not eat. We sat looking at each 
other, and weeping tears that could not 
be controlled." 

In this spirit Alfred Cookman 
preached and labored to win men to 
God, not counting any sacrifice too 
great that he might finish his course 
with peace, and the ministry committed 
to him. 

182 



CHAPTER XII. 

PASTOR AND PREACHER. CONTINUED. 

ALFRED COOKMAN'S term of 
^" service closed at the Union Church 
in the spring of 1861. The unprece- 
dented wave of revival influence which 
made his ministry at Green Street such 
a remarkable success had passed, and 
no such results could have been rea- 
sonably expected at the Union. But his 
ministry was not wanting in fruitage. 
Many were added to the Church, but 
it was more gradual. The additions 
were in small numbers. 

But the time had come for his re- 
moval, and the calls for his services 
were numerous. Among them came an 
urgent petition from New York City, 
and in response to this call he was 
transferred to the New York Confer- 
ence, and stationed at Central Church, 
183 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmati* 

on Seventh Street, New York City. 
This Church seemed to have a special 
claim upon him. It was the same so- 
ciety which had, in 1841, secured the 
services of his honored father when he 
should return from England. It is not 
surprising that they should now seek 
the services of his noble son, who was 
standing in the front ranks of the suc- 
cessful ministers of the Church. Mr. 
Cookman's first year at Central Church 
was the year of the outbreak of the 
Rebellion, and was, in all respects, a 
most trying time. The war spirit seemed 
to dominate all other interests. The 
whole land seemed a military camp. The 
Sabbath was mainly neglected, and amid 
such scenes it is no wonder that churches 
were deserted, congregations limited, 
and the revival spirit repressed. But 
this state of things did not long con- 
tinue. After the first blaze of Northern 
patriotism had spent its force, the people, 
finding that war had become a matter 
of fact, a real, stern reality, and that 
184 



Pastor and Preacher. 

it was not all victory, but at times 
signal defeat, began to return to the 
churches. It was felt that an appeal to 
God for help was a necessity. Then 
the churches were again filled. 

In the midst of these conflicts, Al- 
fred Cookman stood his ground. His 
sermons were full of patriotism, but 
Christ was made the one central thought, 
His heart was in fullest sympathy with 
the North in its struggles against the 
slave power, and in his sermons and 
speeches he sought to keep alive in the 
hearts of the people faith, first in God, 
and then faith in the American Re- 
public. 

Mr. Cookman's voice was soon heard 
in the Fulton Street noonday prayer- 
meeting. No one was more welcomed 
than he. 

It was natural that Alfred Cookman 
should early become interested in the 
Sing Sing camp-ground. He writes to 
his wife, who, with the children, was 
at her father's home in Columbia, Pa v 
185 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

while he had been at Sing Sing: '"We 
had a glorious work. O, I can never 
forget it! The camp has been only 
outside of heaven itself. Meetings pow- 
erful and blessed/' Speaking of his 
sermon at the camp-meeting, he says : 
"In the evening your poor, unworthy 
husband preached on 'Redeeming the 
time.' D, how much oppressed in view 
of my fearful responsibility ! But, glory 
to 'the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
Divine strength was made perfect in my 
weakness, and I think that never have 
I preached so much in the demonstra- 
tion of the Spirit. Sinners were smitten 
on the right hand and on the left. The 
altar and tents were occupied with peni- 
tents and praying Christians ; many souls 
were converted. One gentleman of forty 
years of age was converted while I 
preached. Not unto me, not unto me; 
but unto my blessed Savior shall be all 
praise and glory, now and for evermore." 
Alfred Cookman found in New York 
what his soul yearned for — a meeting 
186 



Pastor and Preacher. 

for the special promotion of holiness, 
conducted by Dr. and Mrs. Palmer. 
Here great and good men and women, 
of all denominations, met to enjoy the 
fellowship of saints. Alfred Cookman 
received from week to week in this 
meeting, great spiritual profit. The tes- 
timonies were especially helpful. His 
presence also contributed, not a little, 
to the interest of these meetings. 

Mr. Cookman's pastorate at the Cen- 
tral Church closed in the spring of 
1863. But not without deep regret on 
the part of the people. He was be- 
loved by all as a man of God. 

His next pastorate was in the same 
city, Trinity Church, on West Thirty- 
fourth Street. The Church to which he 
was appointed knew him to be pro- 
nounced on two questions — the war, and 
the subject of holiness. 

The war was still raging, and every 
effort was being made to relieve the 
sufferings of our soldiers who were at 
the front and in the hospitals. 
187 



Life Sketches of Rev # Alfred Cookman. 

The Christian Commission had been 
organized, with the object of carrying 
comfort to the bodies and minds of our 
suffering soldiers. Christian ministers 
by hundreds volunteered their services 
for a given time, and worthy laymen 
joined them in these acts of mercy. The 
good accomplished by these worthy, un- 
selfish men of God will not be fully 
known until the books are finally opened. 
Mr. Lincoln, in addressing a company of 
these ministers, in our presence, said, 
"Gentlemen, you are the only men who 
have called on me that did not want 
something/' Mr. Cookman offered his 
services to the Christian Commission. 
They were accepted. He left home 
about the 20th of February, 1864, and 
returned to his charge the 24th of March, 
having spent his time in Washington 
and Brandy Station, etc. He was much 
of the time with the New York Heavy 
Artillery, and at the headquarters of the 
Reserve Artillery. His correspondence 
to his wife and family shows how deeply 
188 



Pastor and Preacher. 

he was interested in the work. An ex- 
tract from a letter to his wife will indi- 
cate the work which most interested 
him. He says : "I have been writing 
this morning a letter to a wife who re- 
sides at Garrison Station, on the line 
of the Hudson River Railroad. Last 
night her husband was powerfully con- 
verted. The case is thrillingly interest- 
ing. Two weeks since he tore himself 
from a dear, pious, and faithful wife 
and three beloved children. His com- 
panion remonstrated with tears in her 
eyes. Still he enlisted. After great 
hardships, he reached this camp on 
Wednesday morning. In the evening he 
came to the tent. The preached word 
affected his heart, and he rose for 
prayers. All day yesterday he was a 
subject of powerful awakening. Last 
evening, during our experience meet- 
ing, he rose up (a noble-looking man) 
and, with tears running down his cheeks, 
said : 'O, fellow-soldiers, how much I 
want to be saved ! All day I have been 
189 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

wrestling with conviction. Now I 
yield, I yield; I can hold out no more. 
I am resolved to seek and serve God. 
O, won't you please pray for me?' I 
dropped on my knees, and poured out 
my soul in importunate pleading. All 
the soldiers were wonderfully interested 
and engaged. Prayer finished, the sol- 
dier rose again, and said: 'Fellow-sol- 
diers, I must tell you I believe God has 
heard and answered my prayer. The love 
of Jesus is shed abroad in my heart. 
I am happy in God. I came to be a 
soldier of the Nation— now I am, in 
addition, a soldier of Jesus. When we 
were coming here, very many of our 
company were sorry that they had en- 
listed ; but if you will enlist in the serv- 
ice of Jesus, you will never be sorry/ 
Thereupon, another soldier sprang to 
his feet, and said : 'I will enlist to-night. 
Two of my children are in heaven. I 
want to meet them there, and I intend 
to march with that dear man. Here, 
fellow-soldiers, I enlist to-night/ I can 
190 



Pastor and Preacher. 

give you no idea of the meeting. It 
was wonderful, glorious, surpassing any- 
thing I ever witnessed. My own soul 
is richly baptized. I lay down on my 
bed with a heart melting in gratitude 
before God." 

Mr. Cookman was at home in this 
sort of work, and this is a sample of the 
work he did among the soldiers. "I 
am sustained/' he says, "by the convic- 
tion that I am in the line of duty, and 
God strengthens and blesses me." To 
his sister Mary, he writes : "God keeps 
my soul in peace. When I walk these 
hills alone, I feel I am not atone. My 
Heavenly Father vouchsafes me his 
presence, and I am allowed precious 
communion with himself. Our meet- 
ings are largely attended, and decidedly 
interesting. Every night there are some 
new cases of awakening and conver- 
sion. On Tuesday evening, beside the 
number who rose for prayers, four 
noble soldiers stood up and asked 
prayers of all present. Two of them 
191 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

professed to find Jesus before the close 
of the meeting. O, how much I wish 
you could enjoy one of these experi- 
ence meeting's !" In this manner the 
work went on. 

It was at Trinity that Mr. and Mrs. 
Cookman suffered their first bereave- 
ment, in the death of their little daugh- 
ter Rebecca, but three and a half years 
old. She was absent from home when 
she died, staying with her grandfather 
at Columbia. "We were exceedingly 
shocked at the announcement of her 
death," writes Mr. Cookman to his 
friend, Mrs. Skidmore; "for, although 
we had heard of her sickness, we had 
no idea that she was seriously or dan- 
gerously ill. The little representative of 
Central Church is the first taken from our 
domestic circle. O, how real and blessed 
the eternal home seems this evening! 
My dear wife is overwhelmed with sor- 
row. Nevertheless, she submits un- 
complainingly to this providence of our 
faithful God." 

192 



Pastor and Preacher* 

Writing to his sister Mary, he says, 
"We have just been placing in the cold 
grave another beautiful gem, to develop 
and reappear in the promised resurrec- 
tion." "I have many times sought," 
he says, "to comfort bereaved parents. 
God, by his providence, has been better 
preparing me for this part of my min- 
isterial duty." 

Mr. Cookman's pastorate at Trinity 
closed in 1864, and he accepted a press- 
ing invitation to return to Philadelphia, 
where his services were sought for a new 
church which had been erected on 
Spring Garden Street. We need not 
refer to the correspondence which led 
to his return to the city he so much 
loved, and in which were so many of 
his dearest friends. Mr. Cookman was 
pastor of Spring Garden Street for three 
years, and his ministry in that new and 
attractive church was as great a suc- 
cess as in any pastorate of his ministry. 
He was never more popular with his 
people, and never exerted a more salu- 
13 i93 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman, 

tary influence in the community. He 
was in the prime of his manhood and 
the height of his usefulness. His con- 
gregation welcomed him with open arms. 
His church was admirably located, and 
ably manned by intelligent and energetic 
laymen, and success seemed assured 
from the beginning. Mr. Cookman was 
well and personally known in the city 
by all. His name was already a tower 
of strength. He at once established a 
meeting in his church for the promo- 
tion of holiness. This meeting was 
subsequently removed, by his consent, 
to the Methodist Book-room on Arch 
Street, where it has remained to this 
day. Mr. Cookman continued to con- 
duct the meeting while he remained in 
Philadelphia. His first year in Spring 
Garden Street was full of excessive toil 
and unprecedented usefulness. Fears 
were entertained that his abundant la- 
bors were too great a draft on his vital 
energies, but he seemed in perfect health. 
On his return, in 1866, from the Confer- 
194 



Pastor and Pr eacher ♦ 

ence, he seemed full of evangelistic zeal. 
He is away to help his brother John, 
at Poughkeepsie, in a revival, his brother 
suffering from an attack of diphtheria. 
His vacation is spent at the camp-meet- 
ings, urging the peopleto the enjoyment 
of full salvation. "What is the use of 
giving you a vacation ?" said one of his 
official brethren ; "you do n't rest ; you 
go to all the camp-meetings, and preach 
more than if you were at home. I can 
not favor it unless you will rest." His 
reply was : "I can not accept a vacation 
on such conditions. I must preach. 
The gospel is free." Mr. Cookman's 
health seemed unimpaired, and with him 
preaching was a pleasure, and laboring 
for the salvation of souls was rest. He 
had learned the meaning of that line, 

"Iyabor is rest." 

Wherever he went, light was diffused, 
power fell on the people, and there was 
great rejoicing. He says, on returning 
to his charge, "It was the most delight- 
195 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman, 

ful holiday of my life." He was at 
Shrewsbury camp-meeting for three 
days, and pronounces them "three of 
the greatest and most glorious days of 
my life." He preached at the last- 
named camp a sermon on entire sancti- 
fication. "The illumination and unc- 
tion," he says, "vouchsafed were, I 
think, unprecedented in my history. O, 
what power I had in appealing to the 
preachers ! Hundreds of people bowed 
in consecration!" 

In 1867, Mr. Cookman's last year in 
Spring Garden Street, the National 
Camp-meeting movement was inaugu- 
rated, an account of which, with Mr. 
Cookman's relation to it, are given in 
other chapters. 

There were three events occurring 
during this year which deeply affected 
Mr. Cookman: First, the death of 
Bishop Simpson's son Charles ; second, 
the death of his eldest brother George; 
and finally, the death of his eldest son, 
Bruner. His brother George was con- 
196 



Pastor and Preacher ♦ 

verted tinder the ministry of Alfred in 
Philadelphia. His death occurred Octo- 
ber i, 1867. Few hearts were ever more 
closely united than were these brothers. 
From the time of his conversion, George 
Cookman became one of the most 
earnest, devoted Christian men in Phil- 
adelphia. As a member, first of Green 
Street, and then of Arch Street, of 
which he was one of the founders, he 
was a leader in every good work. He 
was Sunday - school superintendent, 
trustee, steward, class-leader, exhorter, 
and leader of Church music. He was 
president of the Young Men's Christian 
Association, «as successor of George H. 
Stuart ; a manager of the American Sun- 
day-school Union, manager of the Phil- 
adelphia Tract Society, etc. George 
Cookman was a well-rounded man, as 
well as a Christian of whom none were 
ashamed. In a letter to his bosom friend, 
Rev. Andrew Longacre, Alfred says : 
"I mourn the loss of one of the sweetest 
and best of brothers. The earthward 
197 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman, 

side ol this dispensation is desolate be- 
yond expression. I find my soul, how- 
ever, singing, 

1 Jesus, brother of my soul, 
Let me to thy bosom fly.' 

There I hide my crippled wing, and 
realize the comfort that the Divinity 
supplies. Pray for me." 

The last testimony of this good man, 
given in an experience-meeting, on the 
Wednesday evening- before he died, was 
that he was physically feeble, and could 
not say much, but his experience might 
be expressed in that beautiful stanza: 

" 'T is Jesus, the First and the Last, 

Whose Spirit shall guide me straight 
home; 
I '11 praise him for all that is past, 

And trust him for all that 's to come." 

George died well. Death found him 
at his post, faithfully discharging his 
duties. 

And now, March 2, 1868, his first- 
born, Alfred Bruner Cookman, is re- 
moved by death. He had been a light 
198 



Pastor and Preacher* 

in the home for nearly sixteen years. 
He was a good Christian boy, had been 
converted, and was doing all a boy 
could do to maintain a Christian life. 
He gives this account of his conversion, 
January 8, 1865 : "To-day I have expe- 
rienced religion. In the afternoon I 
went up to the altar, but did not find 
Christ. In the evening I found him. 
Glory to God!" He was a child of 
feeble constitution, but his associates all 
said of him, "Alfred Bruner Cookman 
is a good boy — good at school, good on 
the street, good at play, good in his 
words, good in his temper, good in his 
actions." "And so he was/' said his 
father. 

"None knew him but to love him, 
None named him but to praise." 

It was a sad blow to the home. 
Mother and father felt the bereavement 
as only good parents do when the first- 
born is taken. "Our glorified boy!" 
says Mr. Cookman. "We praise God 
199 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman, 

for the temporary loan. It made earth 
more beautiful. It makes heaven more 
attractive. " The three years of pastoral 
labor m the Spring Garden charge 
closed in 1868. Between the conflict- 
ing claims of St. John's Church, Brook- 
lyn, and Grace Church, Wilmington, 
Delaware, Mr. Cookman was severely 
pressed. Both churches were new, and 
offered equal attractions. Grace Church 
had the advantage of being in his own 
Conference. The bishops finally decided 
the matter in favor of Grace Church. 
His three years' pastorate in Wilming- 
ton was marked with his usual success. 
Immediately his ministry became at- 
tractive to all classes, and his Church 
was speedily filled. Among his first efforts 
was the establishment of a meeting for 
the promotion of holiness. There were 
some who were of opinion that he might 
be urging the subject unduly, and that it 
would interfere with his popularity. To 
this he answered: "O, the Lord Jesus 



Pastor and Preacher 

has my reputation in his keeping. I have 
committed it all to him, and he will 
take care of it." There were many in his 
Church who at first were not prepared 
to accept his views on the subject of 
holiness, but who, finally, received them 
experimentally, and became his warmest 
friends. The people loved him with an 
intense love for the good they had re- 
ceived under his ministry. Writing to 
his wife, who had not yet arrived, of his 
first Sabbath, he says : "It was a glorious 
day ; congregation magnificent ; sacra- 
ment the most blessed service of that 
kind I have enjoyed for years. Friends 
seemed in highest spirit, and my soul 
praises God." Very soon after entering 
upon his labors, his spirit became dif- 
fused through his congregation, and a 
revival commenced, which continued 
through the entire term of his pastorate. 
This blessed work of God included the 
justification of sinners, and the entire 
sanctification of believers. "I believe," 






Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

says one of his members, "that eternity 
alone will reveal the good he accom- 
plished at Grace." 

In the spring of 1869, Mr. Cookman 
was invited to take part in the Fiftieth 
Anniversary of the Missionary Society 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church,, 
held in the city of Washington, D. C, 
on the 10th and nth of January. Able 
representatives of the Church were 
present, and made long and labored ad- 
dresses on the occasion. Alfred Cook- 
man was the last speaker. The hour 
was late, the people were weary, and 
the prospect was not hopeful for any 
man. Mr. Cookman, in his opening 
remarks, said : "And now, sir, looking 
around upon the field, I do not seem to 
see a standing stalk of truth. These 
brethren, with their bright blades or 
their keen sickles, have been getting the 
harvest — they have even carried it to 
the mill. They have ground it out in 
their close, clear, vigorous thinking. 
They have manufactured it into nour- 
202 



Pastor and Preacher. 

ishing and delightful food. It has been 
dealt out among the people, and in the 
morning and in the evening you have 
been enjoying it, and are now satisfied. 
It seems to me that it only remains for 
me to return thanks and go home. O, 
sir, if I may change the figure, I have 
thought during the evening, while occu- 
pying my seat, that we have been en- 
gaged during the day in the inspection 
of our great missionary ship, its keel, 
its timbers, its planking, its deck, its 
machinery — a most magnificent piece of 
machinery — its pilotage, and its Leader. 
Our flags are flying, our officers are in 
their places, and all that we are needing, 
as it would seem, is the missionary 
spirit, which might be entitled the motive 
power." He then dwelt on the mis- 
sionary spirit. A correspondent of the 
Christian Advocate wrote, "The address 
was pervaded by the blessed spirit of 
the Master, and at times, in rapt de- 
light, the audience wept and rejoiced; 
and when the speaker closed his remarks, 
203 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman, 

all present must have felt that they had 
been with him at the feet of Jesus, re- 
ceiving inspiration and comfort for 
future effort." 

At the General Conference of 1868, 
the Philadelphia Conference was divided, 
and the Wilmington Conference was 
formed, and now Alfred Cookman 
found himself in another than the Phil- 
adelphia Conference. But he continued 
in the work at Grace Church until his 
term expired. His labors during this 
period were prodigious. His services at 
the three great National Camp-meet- 
ings — Hamilton, Oakington, and Des 
Plaines ; his management of the Penin- 
sula Methodist Convention, Ennall's 
Spring Camp, etc., must have pressed 
him beyond measure. His closing ad- 
dress at the Methodist Convention, 
"though impromptu, " says Rev. G. H. 
Lightbourne, "was one of the most 
beautiful and thrilling to which I ever 
listened." The pastor of the West 
Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, gives 
204 



Pastor and Preacher . 

this testimony of Mr. Cookman's work: 
"Perhaps no man ever exerted a wider 
or better influence in that community 
in the same time than did Alfred Cook- 
man, and no man was more highly es- 
teemed or more tenderly loved/' 

The Wilmington Commercial said, "It 
is with deep regret that his brethren of 
the Wilmington Conference part with 
him, and many of the laity will follow 
him with tearful eyes and prayerful 
wishes that they may meet again on 
this side the grave, and if not, that they 
may meet him in heaven." 

One of the most touching scenes oc- 
curred at a meeting of the Society of 
Friends, at which Mr. Cookman was 
present for the last time. He was 
accustomed to attend these Wednesday- 
afternoon meetings. The minister read 
for his lesson, Acts xx, 17: "And they 
all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, 
and kissed him, sorrowing most of all 
for the words which he had spoken that 
they should see his face no more/' Mr, 
205 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman* 

Cookman was himself overcome by his 
emotions, and, with the whole audience, 
continued to weep for some time. So 
uncontrollable were their emotions that 
it was impossible for a time to proceed 
with the services. It seemed quite 
prophetic, as he never again visited 
that meeting. 

In 1871, Alfred Cookman made his 
last move. It is true he had calls from 
Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Washing- 
ton, and Newark ; but Providence, no 
doubt, directed his appointment to Cen- 
tral Church, Newark, N. J., that he 
might receive his final translation in the 
midst of his friends. His appointment 
seems to have been in direct answer to 
prayer. Before he left Grace Church, 
and while he was not able to see clearly 
the path of duty, there was a little prayer- 
meeting of his special friends. They met 
to pray for Divine guidance. He was 
ready for any place, ready to suffer or to 
die for Jesus. It is said that the next 
morning, with one voice, they said, 
"Newark/' and to Newark he went 
206 



Pastor and Preacher* 

He was received by the members of 
his new field with the greatest cordiality, 
and everything was done to make him 
and his family comfortable and happy. 
Those who knew him best could see with 
great clearness that Alfred Cookman was 
increasingly intent on possessing more of 
the mind that was in Christ, and to be 
perfect as' he is perfect, and to be envel- 
oped constantly in an atmosphere of 
heavenly-mindedness. Such was Alfred 
Cookman as he entered upon his final 
pastorate. He seemed to be well char- 
acterized by the term saintliness. He 
may not have been impressed with this 
change ; but those with whom he came 
in contact saw clearly the spirit of glory 
and of God was resting upon him. He 
entered joyfully into every interest of 
his Church, and the people responded 
heartily to his earnest appeals to seek 
the promised power from on high. In 
the midst of these signs of great useful- 
ness the end came. 

207 



CHAPTER XIII. 

FINAL TRIUMPH: SWEEPING THROUGH 
THE GATES. 

TPHE remark has often been made: 

* "What a misfortune to the Christian 

Church that Alfred Cookman should 

have been called away so early in life, in 

the forty-second year of his age ! He 

had many years of active life before him, 

and the Church so much needed his 

services. " We do not sympathize with 

this complaint. The Church has gained 

by his dying vastly more than she could 

have gained by his living. His dying 

song of victory will live long after all his 

labors have been forgotten. 

Some men die old at thirty. Others 

are children at fourscore. The real fact is, 

" We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not 
breaths ; 
In feelings, not in figures on a dial. 
We should count time by heart-throbs. He 

most lives 
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the 
best; 

208 



Sweeping Through the Gates, 

He whose heart beats quickest lives longest — 
Lives in one hour more than in years do 
some." 

"The dead have all the glory of the 
world." 

"If the sun were never to rise again," 
says old Jeremy Collier, "it would look 
grander to tumble from the heavens at 
midday, with all its light and heat, 
rather than gain a few hours, only to 
languish and decline." 

"The last act of such a life is much like 
the last number of a sum, ten times 
greater than all the rest." 

Rev. Thomas Walsh, of whom Mr. 
Wesley said, "Such a master of Bible 
knowledge I never saw before, and never 
expect to see again," and under whose 
ministry he claims that "more souls were 
converted than under the labors of any 
man of his time," died at the age of 
twenty-eight. But his influence still 
lives. Rev. John Summerfield, the most 
eloquent and effective preacher that ever 
stood in an American pulpit, and whose 
14 209 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmaru 

memory is as fragrant as "the rose of 
Sharon or the lily of the valley," and 
can never be dissipated, died at the age 
of twenty-seven. Rev. David Brainard, 
whose self-sacrificing labor is an inspi- 
ration to every missionary of the cross, 
and of whom Bishop Hamline once said, 
"I would rather be David Brainard, 
wrapped in my bearskin and spitting 
blood upon the snow, than to be Ga- 
briel/' died at the age of twenty-nine 
years. The influence of such a man must 
continue to be felt until "the kingdoms 
•of this world shall become the kingdom 
of our Lord and his Christ." Bishop 
Janes, in addressing some missionaries, 
said, in substance: "Go to your field of 
labor, and devote all your energies to 
save the heathen, and take the very first 
good opportunity to die and go to 
heaven. It is often true, 

* The good die first, 
And they whose hearts are dry as summer 

dust 
Burn to the socket.' " 



Sweeping Through the Gates* 

It is true, Alfred Cookman died com- 
paratively young ; but he lives in the love 
and admiration of God's people, and will 
while holiness is accepted as the "central 
idea of Christianity/' 

Mr. Cookman had reached the last 
milestone of his mortal life, and was now 
about to "languish into the life immor- 
tal." Such an end could not be said to 
be "languishing," except in the sense 
of the indescribable physical agonies 
which he suffered. As he approached 
the "Golden Shore," he had, like Ste- 
phen, visions of an open heaven. After 
a severe attack of physical agony had 
subsided, he had, or fancied he had, a 
remarkable vision. He was just inside 
the city of God. While there, he was 
first received by his Grandfather Cook- 
man, who said : "When you were in Eng- 
land, I took great pleasure in showing 
you the different places of interest. Now 
I welcome you to heaven, washed in the 
blood of the Lamb." Then his father, 
whose features were as distinct as when 

211 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman* 

he saw him in his boyhood, said : "Wel- 
come, my son, washed in the blood of 
the Lamb !" Then his brother George 
clasped him as he arrived, and said, 
"Welcome, my brother, washed in the 
blood of the Lamb." Finally, his son 
Bruner received him with the same salu- 
tation, "Welcome, father, washed in the 
blood of the Lamb." 

The saints of God have sometimes had 
such visions. They have come nearer 
than to say, 

"The holy ones, behold they come! 
I hear the noise of wings." 

They have said : "Do n't you see them? 
Do n't you hear the music ?" They sing : 

" Bright spirits are from glory come ; 
They 're round my bed ; they 're in my room ; 
They wait to waft my spirit home, — 
All is well." 

Once reporting this dream, if one is 
pleased to call it a dream, to his wife, he 
said, "What an abundant entrance !" 
Notwithstanding these wonderful visions 
of heavenly life, and his manifest fitness 

212 



Sweeping Through the Gates* 

for the place, he was often heard to re- 
peat the words: 

11 I 'm a poor sinner, and nothing at all; 
But Jesus Christ is rhy all in all." 

Like Wesley, he could say: 

" I the chief of sinners am, 
But Jesus died for me." 

When the faithful soul comes face to 
face with the realities of the last struggle, 
he sees nothing left to him but Jesus. 
His past faithfulness, his personal holi- 
ness, no matter how deep and complete ; 
his abundant labors and marvelous fruit- 
age in souls — all these count for nothing 
in the presence of the Throne. He finds 
that "there is no way into the holiest of 
all but by the blood of Jesus." 

Alfred Cookman, as he drew near the 
close of life, seemed more and more anx- 
ious that every movement lived, every 
word spoken, every meeting held, and 
every sermon preached, should bear the 
stamp of the Holy Spirit. They dis- 
tilled fragrance that was everywhere felt. 
213 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmaiu 

His spiritual-mindedness during the last 
few weeks of his life exceeded by far any 
former period in his life. 

"Sometimes," he said, "I think my 
work nearly done, and when I take my 
bed it may be the last sickness." 

As late as the 18th of October, less 
than one month before his death, he at- 
tended the annual meeting of the Na- 
tional Association in New York. His 
soul seemed in a state of spiritual ec- 
stasy. His heart was all on fire. As we 
walked along the street with him, he 
said : "Let me take your arm. My limbs 
trouble me, and I am weak." Though 
he seemed very feeble, we had no 
thought that death was so near. He 
made his last visit to his brother John, 
then stationed at West Twenty-fourth 
Street. He attended a love-feast two 
days before his final illness in Halsey 
Street Methodist Episcopal Church, 
Newark, and gave a clear, ringing testi- 
mony, relating his experience, especially 
on the subject of holiness, saying to two 
214 



Sweeping Through the Gates* 

brothers who accompanied him home : 
"I know it is not popular to hold up the 
doctrine of holiness ; but I thought I 
would do my whole duty then. I feel 
this may be my last opportunity/' There 
is little doubt that he expected his end 
might be near. 

Four days after he attended the annual 
meeting of the Association, he performed 
his last public service in his church, 
Sunday, October 22d. He was now 
about to do what he had many times, 
when in health, said he would like to do. 
"I would like to die, if it were God's 
will, with tny armor on, and preach by 
my death as well as by my life/ 5 He 
would like to die as Rev. Dudley Tyng 
died, saying, "It was glorious to die as 
he did, for his dying testimony is yet 
echoing round the world." God gave 
him his desire, and his dying testimony, 
like Mr. Tyng's, is echoing round the 
world, and will continue to be heard 
while the annals of dying saints are read. 
The trembling believer will take courage 
215 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookmaa, 

by it as he approaches the "swellings of 
Jordan." 

Mr. Cookman's text in the morning 
was from Mark iv, 25, "From him that 
hath not shall be taken away even that 
which he hath." It was a solemn, 
searching sermon. As evening ap- 
proached he complained of not feeling 
well. "Mrs. Cookman was very anxious 
to secure some one to fill the pulpit for 
the evening service;" but he was not 
willing. "I think I have a message from 
God for this people. I shall preach from 
'The faded leaf/ " He arose, holding in 
his hand a faded leaf, saying, "This is my 
text, 'We all do fade as a leaf.'" He 
seemed unlike himself, and several per- 
sons remarked to his wife that "He 
looked like one transfigured." One lady 
remarked to her husband that she "did 
not think that Fletcher could have 
looked more seraphic." As he passed 
from the pulpit, he handed the faded leaf 
to a friend, saying as he did so, "That 
leaf and the preacher are much alike — 
216 



Sweeping Through the Gates* 

fading." As he concluded his sermon 
his feet gave way, and it was with some 
effort that he limped from the pulpit to 
his home. As he reached the parsonage 
and met his anxious wife, he seemed al- 
most distracted with pain. He was as- 
sisted to his chamber, saying to his wife, 
"I have preached my own experience 
to-night — 'Fading as a leaf.' " A phy- 
sician was summoned, who pronounced 
the disease "myalgia, or acute inflam- 
matory rheumatism." The pain was 
confined to the ankles and the soles of 
the feet ; but so intense was it that he re- 
marked to us that it would have been a 
relief to place his feet in the fire. No 
language can describe the agony he suf- 
fered. Rev. L. R. Dunn says: "In at- 
tempting to describe his sufferings to 
me, he used the following language : 'If 
the bones of my feet were all teeth, and 
each one had what we call the jumping 
toothache, it would give you some idea 
of what I suffer/ " He himself said that 
"while his whole physical nature was 
217 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

quivering with agony, his higher spirit- 
ual nature triumphed in God." He said 
to us: "In the midst of my most severe 
agonies, my soul has been so filled with 
God that for a time I quite forget the 
pain." 

Mr. Cookman seemed hopeful of his 
recovery in the presence of his friends; 
but beneath all this hopeful exterior 
there seemed to be a conviction that his 
work was done. There was always an 
"if." After about a week of suffering, as 
above described, there came a lull, and 
he became hopeful and cheerful, and 
spent the time in reading, or being read 
to, and in writing brief letters to his 
friends. The comfort he found in read- 
ing the Word of God was very great. 

The 29th of October, one week from 
the time he was prostrated, the members 
of his Church, who were very anxious, 
held a prayer-meeting to pray for his 
recovery. He dictated a note to the 
meeting : "This is a Sabbath of great 
physical suffering, and yet it is proving, 
218 



Sweeping Through the Gates. 

doubtless in answer to your prayers, the 
most precious of all my life. I am Christ's 
suffering little child; amid the very 
sharp, keen, excruciating pain, I feel that 
Jesus presses me even more closely to 
his great heart of love, and lets me realize 
the power of his Divine sympathy and 
tenderness. God bless you all — the kind- 
est, dearest people that any pastor ever 
served." 

Among the letters written in these in- 
tervals of suffering, he addressed some to 
his most intimate friends. We select 
portions from one written to Mrs. Abra- 
ham Bruner, his mother-in-law. Still 
confined to his bed, and has been for 
three weeks, he says : "For some months 
past I have been far from well; but at 
the close of my sermon on the evening 
of October 22d, I felt my feet giving 
way. I limped home, went to bed, and 
for nine days was almost distracted with 
what my physicians called myalgia, an 
acute form of inflammatory rheumatism. 
The pain was confined to my ankles and 
219 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

soles of my feet. It was just as if the 
back part of my feet were filled with 
teeth, and all at the same time affected 
with violent jumping toothache. This, 
of course, made my feet so sore that I 
could scarcely bear to have them 
touched. It so involved my whole nerv- 
ous system that towards the last it was 
almost like convulsions. Only once have 
I sat up, and then returned to bed with 
a raging fever. Fever, bloody expecto- 
ration, sore throat, torpid liver, disor- 
dered kidneys, absence of appetite, 
hemorrhoids, and great weakness are my 
symptoms at present. My physician, 
a skillful and experienced practitioner, 
is very faithful in coming to see me twice 
a day. Then my precious wife (God 
bless her!) has been unremitting in her 
attentions. Day and night, like a loving 
angel, she has hovered over my pillow, 
studying my wants, anticipating my 
wishes. O, I can never repay her for 
her self-sacrificing and unwavering love ! 
I fancy she looks thin through her con- 
220 



Sweeping Through the Gates* 

stant nursing; but she would not per- 
mit any one to take her place, and I am 
sure I do not want any one else. 

"Above all, my dear mother, I have 
had the precious Jesus with me every 
hour of my sickness. When my pains 
were most severe, he would let down 
upon my soul such a weight of glory 
that I was obliged to break forth in 
strains of praise and joy. O, precious 
mother, how invaluable is full salvation 
in suffering and in the prospect of eter- 
nity ! To feel that the soul is washed in 
the blood of the Lamb, and to realize the 
perfect love that casts out all fear that 
hath torment! O, this is more than all 
the world beside !" 

This epistle gives a graphic idea of the 
deep agonies he endured, and the rich 
and abundant blessing from God by 
which he was sustained. At times Mr. 
Cookman would break out and sing, "O, 
how I love Jesus I" or "Rock of Ages," 
etc. 

We were invited to supply his pulpit 

221 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman, 

Sabbath, November 12th. We called 
upon him with another brother on Sat- 
urday evening, and found him apparently 
improved, and quite hopeful. And while 
we prayed there seemed an unusual 
manifestation of the Divine presence. 
He was greatly comforted, and so were 
we. At the close of the Sabbath morn- 
ing service we retired to the parsonage, 
and spent the afternoon with him. We 
need not say that it was a season never 
to be forgotten. We found "the cham- 
ber where the good man met his fate 
quite on the verge of heaven." "Dark- 
ness" often "shows us worlds of light 
we never saw by day." So Alfred Cook- 
man's extreme physical sufferings had 
seemed to open to his sanctified vision 
the glories of that world where there is 
"no more pain," and where "they die no 
more." His soul had been enraptured 
with the sight, that strong as were his 
attachments to earth, with wife and little 
ones whom he dearly loved clinging to 
222 



Sweeping Through the Gates. 

him, he could say : "If Jesus should enter 
my room and ask, 'Will you have life or 
death?' I should say, 'Blessed Jesus, I 
have no choice. Do as it pleaseth Thee/ 
O, I am so sweetly washed in the blood 
of the Lamb !" 

"I have tried," he said, "to lift up the 
banner of holiness, and now the sweet 
will of God is mine." To us he said : "I 
have tried to preach holiness. I have 
honestly declared it, and O, what a com- 
fort it is to me now!" Again he said: 
"I have no regrets now. I have stood up 
for the right, though sometimes nearly 
alone." At another time he said to us, 
"I have been true to holiness, and now 
Jesus saves me fully." "I am washed 
and made clean." 

These expressions tell, as nothing else 
could, how deeply he was impressed with 
the importance of the subject of personal 
holiness — being washed in the blood of 
Jesus. His soul seemed all aflame to de- 
clare the boundless love of Jesus. He 
223 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman. 

said : "If I should recover, I shall preach 
holiness as I never preached it before. 
I have such an experience !" 

One of the brethren came in to see 
him, and remarked : "Why, my pastor, 
you are all fixed up — collar and wrapper 
on." He replied : "Ah, your pastor has 
not much strength; the outward is fail- 
ing; but all is right within." 

We called upon him early Monday 
morning, and at once observed a marked 
change. He had failed much during 
the night, and it seemed evident that he 
was approaching the end, and so we re- 
marked to Mrs. Cookman. I went di- 
rectly to New York, to attend the Meth- 
odist Preachers' Meeting, where I met 
his brother John, and said to him : "If 
you desire to see Alfred alive, you had 
better go to Newark as soon as possible." 
He and his mother went immediately. 
To his wife Alfred said, "My dear, if the 
Lord should take me away from you, 
could you say, 'The will of the Lord be 
224 



Sweeping Through the Gates. 

done ?' " She replied : "I feel that you 
belong to the Lord. I have always felt 
so; but I do not believe he is going to 
take you away from me." He answered, 
"God's will is always right and best, 
dear." "But," she continued, "how can 
I live without you ?" He replied : "Jesus 
can be everything to you. He has been 
with us in the past, and he will never 
leave nor forsake you. You know the 
Bible is full of promises for the widow 
and fatherless. Live a moment at a time, 
'looking unto Jesus/ and then, if per- 
mitted, I will be with you often, and will 
be your guardian angel, and be the first 
to meet you at the heavenly gate." 

While Mr. Cookman's mother was 
with him on Monday, his hand became 
paralyzed, and as he looked at it he said, 
"That hand seems paralyzed, but it belongs 
to Jesus." The very presence of God 
seemed to be there, so much so that his 
mother said: "Alfred, I feel it a privi- 
lege to be in this room ; there is such a 
15 225 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

Divine influence. It seems like the gate 
of heaven." He replied, "Yes, there are 
heavenly visitants here." 

To His brother John he said : "I am 
not afraid to die. Death is the gate to 
endless glory. I am washed in the blood 
of the Lamb." To his sister-in-law, Re- 
becca Bruner, who had just arrived, he 
said, "This is the sickest day of my life; 
but all is well." "If you forget every- 
thing else, remember my testimony, 
'Washed in the blood of the Lamb/ 
Jesus is drawing me closer and closer to 
his great heart of infinite love." To his 
wife, he said : "I am Christ's little infant. 
Just as you hold your little babe to your 
bosom, so I am nestled close to the heart 
of Jesus." 

Just before he lost consciousness, he 
said: "How sweet and quiet everything 
seems ! I feel like resting now. / am 
szveeping through the gates, washed in the 
blood of the Lamb!" 

Thus, surrounded by his sorrowing 
226 



Sweeping Thr ough the Gates* 

family and the trustees of his Church, he 
closed his eyes on earth, and about four 
hours later opened them to "behold the 
King in his beauty/' November 13, 1871, 
in the forty-third year of his age. 

To Dr. Edward Payson he said, just 
before his departure : "If my happiness 
continues to increase, I can not support 
it much longer." Writing to his sister, 
he says : "The Celestial City is in full 
view. Its glories beam upon me; its 
breezes fan me; its odors are wafted to 
me; its sounds strike upon my ears, and 
its spirit is breathed into my heart." 
Again this holy man said: "O, what a 
blessed thing it is to lose one's will! 
Since I have lost my will I have found 
happiness. There can be no such thing 
as disappointment to me, for I have no 
desire but that God's will may be accom- 
plished." Here is an experience which 
closely resembles Alfred Cookman's, 
when he says that God, as a "Sun," has 
come so near and become so glorious 
22 7 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

"that the light is too dazzling for flesh 
and blood to sustain/' he is but repeat- 
ing Cookman's experience. 

The news of Mr. Cookman's death 
spread rapidly, as on the wings of the 
wind, and wherever the news came there 
were sad hearts. The people were as- 
tonished, as few had known of his ill- 
ness,, and all who had were confident of 
his restoration. His name had become 
almost a household word, and the love 
for him was so universal that it seemed 
as if one of each household had been 
taken. 

The funeral services took place in the 
Central Church, Thursday, the 16th, at 
three P. M., and on the following day, 
at the Union Church, Philadelphia. The 
Central was packed, until the people 
were obliged to turn away, not being 
able to gain admission. At least one 
hundred ministers were present. The 
church was deeply draped in mourning. 
The following persons took part in the 
services : Rev. S. Van Benschoten read 

23$ 



Sweeping Through the Gates* 

Psalm xc. Rev. Dr. T. DeWitt Tal- 
mage read I Corinthians xv. The ven- 
erable Rev. Dr. J. S. Porter offered an 
appropriate prayer. The anthem, "Cast 
thy burden on the Lord," was sung with 
subdued and melting tenderness. 

Bishop Simpson and the writer fol- 
lowed in addresses. Bishop Simpson's 
address has been referred to in these 
pages several times, and our prescribed 
limits do not permit its full insertion 
here. His opening words were: "How 
solemn is this moment of sorrow ! With 
slow and measured steps we have en- 
tered the church, as though unwilling to 
disturb what might seem to be the slum- 
ber of a dear one. We have come to 
drop a tear ; we have come to take a last 
look; we have come to gather around 
the form of a loved brother minister, 
and now a saint with the Lord Jesus. 
The assembling of such an audience is 
but a faint indication of the esteem and 
affection which a departed brother had 
gained for himself in the Church of Jesus 
229 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman* 

Christ. Standing as we do at this time 
on the very verge of the grave, and look- 
ing, on the one hand, to the fleeting 
years we have to stay, and, on the other, 
to the eternity that stretches out to our 
view, how short life seems; how unim- 
portant the transitory interests of life, 
and how grand and sublime the realities 
of life just beyond !" He further said : 
"I have no words of eulogy to-day over 
our departed brother; but I do knoW 
that in the record of his life, the ,mind 4 
which was in our Lord Jesus Christ was 
made manifest, and he had qualities 
worthy of our examination and imita- 
tion." The address was replete with 
touching references to his personal re- 
lations to the dear departed one, and 
delivered with subdued, melting pathos, 
as if the bishop were laboring to sup- 
press his own deep emotions, while many 
in that vast throng could not control 
their deep grief. 

We spoke of Alfred Cookman's rela- 
tion to the cause of holiness and to the 
230 



Sweeping Through the Gates* 

National Camp-meeting Association, -the 
high esteem in which he was held by the 
brethren, and the sorrow they felt at 
their loss; that no one could take his 
place and do his work. It was in this 
address that we gave, for the first time, 
Alfred Cookman's dying acclaim, "I am 
sweeping through the gates, washed in 
the blood of the Lamb." Dr. (now 
Bishop) R. S. Foster, sitting in the front 
pew,, could contain his emotions no 
longer, and burst into a flood of tears, 
with which the people were in full ac- 
cord. At the conclusion of the services 
at Central Church, the remains were re- 
moved to Philadelphia, accompanied by 
a large number of friends, and on the 
following day were taken to the Union 
Methodist Episcopal Church, where, in 
the presence of a great crowd of sym- 
pathizing friends, additional services 
were conducted. 

The hymn, "Servant of God, well 
done," was read by Rev. J. Dickerson, 
the congregation singing. 
231 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

Rev. Dr. Pattison offered prayer. 

A Scriptural lesson was read by Rev. 
Dr. Suddards, of the Episcopal Church. 

He followed with a brief address, pay- 
ing a high tribute to the excellence of 
both father (George G. Cookman) and 
son. 

Rev. Andrew Longacre then delivered 
a very touching address upon the life 
and character of his lifelong friend. 

Rev. Dr. Alday, the pastor of the 
Church, spoke of the last sickness of 
Mr. Cookman. 

Then followed a most touching address 
by Dr. (now Bishop) Foster, of the Drew 
Theological Seminary, which we give in 
full. Bishop Foster said : 

"If a stranger had heard these words 
of eulogy in regard to our departed 
brother, Rev. Alfred Cookman, he would 
have come to the conclusion that he of 
whom they were spoken was either a 
most remarkable person, or that affec- 
tion had warped the judgment so that 
an overestimate of his qualities had been 
232 



Sweeping Through the Gates* 

uttered. But the words were just, as 
setting forth the character of our de- 
parted brother. 

"It is rarely I feel embarrassed as I 
do in this presence; not the presence of 
this assembly, that does not embarrass 
me ; but (pointing to the remains before 
him) because of this presence. 

"Alfred Cookman belonged to a roy- 
alty. There are many royalties of earth ; 
there is the royalty of genius; but I 
should not class our brother with these ; 
he was not a genius. There is the roy- 
alty of intellect; of scientific research; 
of the power to unfold great doctrines 
and grasp great principles. Though a 
man of a beautiful mind, a clear and 
strong intellect, the range and sweep of 
his observation was not his most won- 
derful gift. There is a royalty of elo- 
quence: our brother was not wanting in 
this ; he seemed to belong to a race 
whose lips were strangely touched. 

"But he belonged to a royalty rarer 
by far than any of these, — the seraphic 
233 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookmaiu 

royalty of earth. He was not Pauline; 
but he was Johanine. He was the 
brother of John, who leaned upon the 
Master's breast, from whom he drew his 
inspiration. He belonged to the race of 
Fletcher and of Payson, — the best and 
rarest royalty God has ever permitted to 
grace the earth. 

"When the brother prayed that the 
mantle of Alfred Cookman might fall on 
us, I said, 'Amen, Lord Jesus/ Not his 
mantle of eloquence or pulpit power, so 
much as his great, magnanimous, holy, 
and sacred character. 

"As my little boy brought the message 
of the death of Alfred Cookman to my 
lecture-room, he knew how it would 
strike me ; he knew he had ministered at 
the altar where his sainted mother and 
sister used to worship; so he said in a 
whisper, 'Father, Brother Cookman is 
dead/ O how it shocked me! I 
thought at once that the most sacred 
man I knew had gone away from us; 
and this is my testimony to-day. I have 
234 



Sweeping Through the Gates. 

known the Church for thirty years; I 
have known the men of the Church dur- 
ing that time through all the episcopacy 
and ministry; and the most sacred man 
I have known is he who is enshrined in 
that casket." . 

As the remains were viewed at the 
close of the services, tears fell plenti- 
fully as the people took their farewell 
look at their friend and brother, ques- 
tioning whether they should ever again 
see so sacred a person. 

Five of the class who joined the Phila- 
delphia Conference with him in 1848 — 
Messrs. Gillinger, Turner, Major, Dick- 
erson, and Adam Wallace — carried his 
body from the church to the hearse. The 
remains were then taken to Laurel Hill 
Cemetery, where the funeral service was 
read by Rev. W. L. Gray, and the hymn, 
"Rock of Ages," was sung, and the body 
was laid in its last resting-place, Novem- 
ber 17, 1 87 1, at the age of forty-three 
years, ten months, and nine days. 

Memorial services were held in many 
235 



Life Sketches of Rev. Alfred Cookman, 

of the Churches in Philadelphia ; in 
Grace Church, Wilmington; Trinity 
Church, New York ; and Central Church, 
Newark. The trustees of the Central 
Church placed at the right of their pul- 
pit a Gothic marble tablet, with the in- 
scription : 

IN MEMORY OF REV. ALFRED COOKMAN. 

Born January 4, 1828, 

Died November 13, 1871. 

" He walked with God, and was not, 

for God took him." 

Alfred Cookman rests from his labors, 
and his works follow him. He has 
already beheld the Lamb, through whose 
blood he was washed and made whiter 
than snow. His feet have pressed the 
golden pavements, no more to feel pain. 
He has tasted the fruit of the tree of life, 
which skirts the banks of the mystic river, 
whose leaves have healed all his diseases. 
He has looked upon the faces of the re- 
deemed of all ages. He does not forget, 
nor regret, that holiness was his theme 
236 



Sweeping Thr ough the Gates* 

here, for it is in that world their daily 
song forever. He does not regret that 
the "blood of the Lamb" was his con- 
stant song, for by it he triumphantly 
swept through the gates, washed and 
made clean. 

"O happy, happy soul! 

In ecstasies of praise, 
L,ong as eternal ages roll 

Thou seest thy Savior's face. 
Redeemed from earth and pain, 

Ah ! when shall we ascend, 
And all in Jesus' presence reign 

With our translated friend ?" 

A beautiful tribute to the Rev. Alfred 
Cookman, by a now sainted soul, Mrs. 
Mary D. James: 

Our Zion mourns to-day, and tears fall fast 
From stricken hearts. A prince in Israel — 
Beloved — hath fallen! Hath fallen? Nay: 

called 
Up higher, to fill a nobler sphere. 

"The Lord 
Had need of him." Shall we repine? 
Why wonder that he called him home at noon? 
For had not then his full day's work been 

done? 

237 



Life Sketches of Rev* Alfred Cookman. 

From early morn he toiled, and gathered 

sheaves, — 
More sheaves had garnered when he left the 

field 
Than many a laborer gathers in a day: 
So earnest in his work of winning sonls! 
His love was such a burning flame, 
That Jesus wanted him to shine above ; 
And, longing for companionship more close 
With one so dear, took him the earlier 

home. 
So precious to the Son of God, he seemed, 
As the loved John, to lean upon his breast; 
For did we not behold the rays divine, 
Outbeaming, oft reflected in his face ? 
And said to one another, "How he bears 
The image of the Heavenry !" 

His words — 
Such glowing words ! — from hallowed lips, 
Touched with the altar-fire, made " our hearts 

burn 
Within us." But the human we forgot ; 
For he had hidden himself behind his Lord ! 
"We saw no man, save Jesus only," there. 
'T was love — 't was holy love — his eloquence . 
That charmed; a melting stream outflowing 

from ; 

A melted heart, as water from a living spring 
Flows ever sweet and pure. 
, 238 



Sweeping Through the Gates* 

His source of power 
The "indwelling Holy Ghost," that moved, and 

thrilled, 
And won. 

His theme, the "cleansing Blood," — 
The " open Fountain " for polluted souls. 
And how they came and washed, and were 

made clean ! 
His spirit, how serenely, beautiful ! 
So gentle, kind, and meek; "clothed with 

humility." 
How like the Blessed One of whom he 

learned ! 
His life as a grand river, broad and deep ; 
Its silvery waters flowing swiftly on 
In ministry of love, bearing rich freightage 
On its tide to bless the world. 
Glorious in triumph was his exit from 
Our shores, and his " abundant entrance " 
To the port of bliss, as echoed back 
His notes of victory : 

" I 'm sweeping through 
The gates, washed in the blood 
Of the Lamb ! " 

Most precious theme ! — in life, 
In death — the Blood, the cleansing Blood ! 
Amid our tears, we join his victor song, 
And, one in spirit still, we 're singing 
" Glory to the Lamb ! " 
239 



